Chapter 4

It had been three days. Three miserably long days without Stiles and Derek was going crazy. He knew he needed to talk to him and tell him the truth. If Stiles still wanted Danny, he'd take that. As much as he wanted the goofy kid, he couldn't keep putting himself through this. With a huff, Derek pulled his phone out and tapped a quick text to Stiles.

We need to talk.

After a few agonizingly long minutes, Stiles sent a reply.

Umm, or not. We don't have to talk about it. Like ever, seriously. Message recieved.

Derek's eyebrows furrowed at that.

Come over after school. Or else I'll find you myself.

Derek knew his response was harsh, but he wasn't sure that Stiles would show without some sort of threat attached. Besides, that is how they talk. Derek makes death-threats and Stiles laughs at him. This felt different though. He couldn't really imagine Stiles laugh right now and that bothered him.

There was no reply, but a few hours later, there was a knock at the front door and the sound of Stiles' erratic heartbeat on the other side of the heavy metal door reached Derek's ears.

Derek tugged open the door and grabbed Stiles by the front of his shirt and dragged him into the apartment, ignoring his weak, half-formed complaints while he slammed the door shut and pushed Stiles up to the wall.

"Stop talking." Derek said calmly, bracketing Stiles head between his hands braced on the wall behind the boy.

Stiles' mouth snapped shut like it did the other day in his room and his eyes flickered to one of Derek's hands before returning to meet his gaze.

"I know about your crush." Derek started and he could hear Stiles' heart pick up its speed, kicking into a sprint.

"Umm, look, I'm sorry." Stiles started, his mouth left gaping as he searched for words to say.

"I just want you to know that I absolutely do not approve and I've tried to dissuade you." Derek said, fighting to keep his voice even as he pictured Stiles doodling those stupid hearts on his notebook while he looked at Danny from across the room.

"I know. I'm sorry. This is why I didn't tell you. I'm not expecting anything from you." Stiles said, his eyes dropping to the floor.

"I also want you to know why." Derek said, pausing until Stiles brought his eyes back up to him.

Stiles looked at him intently, examining Derek's face for any sign of what he was going to say.

With a deep, shaky breath, Derek let the words that had been rattling in his head for weeks now out breathily.

"I love you." As soon as the words were out, Derek squeezed his eyes shut, internally punching himself for being such a coward.

After a long moment and some floundering on Stiles side, Stiles finally found words.

"What the hell dude?!" Derek just squeezed his eyes shut tighter and dropped his head.

"You can have a crush on me but I can't like you back? That hardly seems fair!" Stiles said.

Wait.

Derek snapped his head up, meeting Stiles gaze with a bewildered expression.

"Wait, what? You like me?" Derek sputtered, looking at Stiles incredulously.

Stiles' eyebrow furrowed as he tried to process Derek's question.

"Of course. Isn't that what this was about? You saw the doodles on my notebook and figured out that I like you and you don't approve-"

"What about Danny?" Derek interrupted.

"Danny?!" Stiles said, his eyes bugging out wide before he gathered himself as the pieces clicked into place.

"Oh my god. You thought the D stood for Danny. No no no! Derek, I'm completely in love with YOU!" Stiles exclaimed, throwing his hands up.

That was all Derek needed. He seized forward, catching Stiles' lips with his own, kissing him with every ounce of passion he could muster, letting his hands fall from the wall to pull Stiles in closer by his cheeks. Stiles kissed back enthusiastically, smiling broadly under the kiss and he threw his arms around Derek's waist.

They continued kissing for a few moments until Derek remembered something, pulling his head back abruptly but allowing himself to stay tangled in Stiles' arms.

"I am NOT obviously gay!" Derek growled.

Stiles thought for a moment, realizing what he was referring to.

"If you say so." Stiles said with a wink before towing him in for another kiss.

Needless to say, Stiles never made it home that evening.

The end.