Sterek Library (a03 Edition)

Chasing After You

By: fauvistfly

Summary:  All his life, Derek has been trying to catch up with Stiles. Even when they were young and played tag in the forest edging his backyard, Derek was always a step behind. Stiles was fast and clever, and whenever Derek felt he was just about to tag him, Stiles would maneuver just out of his grasp with a laugh and a smile.

They're older now, and the game is different but the feeling remains: the way Derek’s chest wants to burst with the effects of chasing after him, the way his eyes immediately search the area for any glimpse of Stiles, the echoes of his bright laughter tickling his ears.

Work Text;

All his life, Derek has been trying to catch up with Stiles. Even when they were young and played tag in the forest edging his backyard, Derek was always a step behind. Stiles was fast and clever, and whenever Derek felt he was just about to tag him, Stiles would maneuver just out of his grasp with a laugh and a smile.

They're older now, and the game is different but the feeling remains: the way Derek’s chest wants to burst with the effects of chasing after him, the way his eyes immediately search the area for any glimpse of Stiles, the echoes of his bright laughter tickling his ears.

Derek thinks about this now as he waits for Stiles to come pick him up. Stiles has been in Italy since January, doing a semester abroad for the second half of his freshman year. Derek has never gone that long without seeing Stiles in person, and even the promised Skype sessions never really happened--there was the time zone differences, the various schedule conflicts, the need for sleep. Derek has been trying not to think about it, about how he hasn’t actually seen Stiles’ face in over five months. He tells himself that Stiles did call him the moment he got back into the States and that they’re going to see each other now, but it’s hard.

Stiles has been in Italy, surrounded by beautiful people and sunshine and food and thrilling European experiences. Derek has been studying for AP tests, playing baseball, and doing his best to live life and not merely wait for Stiles to come back. Though most of his free time has been spent running and lifting weights, he did go on a date or two. Unsurprisingly, nothing really went anywhere. He ended up preferring exercising to spending awkward moments with girls and the one boy who were interested in him for some odd reason. The mindlessness of exercise has been comforting, and Erica keeps telling him he’s been looking good, growing into his teeth (he just loves those backhanded compliments of hers). He still remembers when Stiles made some offhand comment about the beauty of six-pack abs, and sometimes he thinks his abs might even be getting there. Of course, Derek still loves pizza a lot--possibly more than is healthy--but he’s been trying.

“Derek, honey? Stiles is here!”

Derek hears his mom’s voice through the closed door of his bathroom where he’s been trying to calm down and also make his hair lay flat. Neither has been working, and he’s been on the phone with Erica--who has been both supremely unhelpful and yet steadying at the same time. Erica says he’s dumb to stress about hanging out with Stiles because pining is a thing that is happening on both sides, but Erica also only hears Derek’s side of things. Erica hears about their interactions and conversations through Derek’s lens of hope; even when that lens is smudged with insecurity and doubt, it’s still made up of hope.

Derek looks in the mirror one last time, breathes in deeply, and goes downstairs. He does his best to look casual--he’s in his regular jeans and a henley, nothing special--but it takes everything in him to say, “Hey” without gaping at Stiles.

Stiles, who has gotten even broader and yet more wiry in his shoulder and forearms.

Stiles, who is tan and is practically glowing in a plain white button-down shirt.