Sterek Library (a03 Edition)

Paint My Heart (It's Yours To Keep)

By: HappyJuicyfruit

Summary:  Derek nodded, staring at Stiles in awe. He’d never met someone like this before. It was like his knight in shining armor had arrived, and turned out to be a goofy stoner with pretty eyes.

Still charming though. Still very charming.

Work Text:

Derek’s head was under a blue Jeep when he heard the knock. He ignored it, because that wasn’t his job. Derek and Cora were the mechanics, Laura and Alex worked with the people and the paperwork. That was the deal.

He only pushed himself out from under the car when the knock came again. Louder this time.

“Laura, someone’s at the door!” Derek called. No answer.

The knock came again. It sounded like whoever was on the other side was trying to make a tune out of it.

Derek looked over at the wall clock - it was 5:30. Laura went home at 5. She usually flipped the sign over when she left, so maybe he could pretend no one was here and -

“Your sign says open!” A muffled voice yelled through the door. “Hello?”

Fuck.

Derek got to his feet, wiping his oily hands off on a rag. He walked quickly to the back room first, hoping that maybe Alex was still here working on the paperwork, but… no. Alex had probably left with Laura. Cora had left ten minutes ago.

It was just him. It was never just him. People knew their hours, and one of his siblings always stayed late with him so he was never alone with the customers. Because they knew, everyone knew, how bad Derek was at talking to people outside of his family.

It was awkward for the other person, they always left thinking Derek was some sort of angry, sullen faced, idiot, who didn’t know how to talk. But it was horrible for Derek. Derek’s heart raced when he had to speak to strangers. His anxiety made it it almost impossible for him to follow conversations. He didn’t know what to say, or do, and he usually tried to stay as still as possible until they left.

So this person, showing up half an hour late? This fucking sucked.

He walked up to the door, thankful he was on the side with no windows. Whoever it was couldn’t see him yet. Derek could see the sign from here though, glowing bright red and declaring them open. Laura forgot to turn it off.

But, that didn’t mean anything. Maybe if he was quiet enough they would just go away.

The knock came again, but this time quieter. Good, the person was giving up.

“Crap, what am I going to do now?” The muffled voice groaned. “Can you even pick someone up from the hospital without a car? Is that allowed?”

Jesus Christ. Derek took a breath, he could do this. This person obviously needed their car, and Derek could, probably, talk to someone for a few minutes. Without his siblings help.

Probably?

There was a thump on the other side of the door, like the person was kicking it, and Derek decided it was now or never. He opened the door with a shaking hand.

Behind the door was the most beautiful man Derek had ever seen. He stood there, gapping at the porcelain skinned, soft lipped, work of art, until the man cocked his head in confusion and Derek realized he had said something and Derek had entirely missed it.

“Um. We’re closed.” Derek said, turning away from the man to turn off the ‘open’ sign. When he turned back, man had deflated. Derek kicked himself for doing that to him.