Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/13696245.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Teen_Wolf_(TV)
  Relationship:
      Derek_Hale/Stiles_Stilinski
  Character:
      Stiles_Stilinski, Derek_Hale, Alan_Deaton, Scott_McCall_(Teen_Wolf)
  Additional Tags:
      POV_Derek
  Stats:
      Published: 2018-02-15 Chapters: 2/? Words: 1881
****** A curse of nature ******
by mindless_indulgence
Summary
     Derek isn't sure when it started, and he sure as hell has no fricking
     idea as to what had caused it in the first place.
     The worst part is [actually, every part of this was the worst, but
     the worst-worst] that most of the time he didn't noticed what he was
     doing, until he was doing it, and then it was too late to prevent
     doing anything in the first place.
      
     It is like a reflex, an unconscious action, and as soon he realizes
     that he’s doing it again, he runs like someone had set his
     figuratively tail on fire, but of course it is too late then.
      
     It must be a curse, or a potion, a spell, or something equally
     unnatural evil doing that he constantly finds himself touching Stiles
     fricking Stilinski all the fricking time!
***** The symptons *****
Derek isn't sure when it started, and he sure as hell has no fricking idea as
to what had caused it in the first place.
The worst part is [actually, every part of this was the worst, but the worst-
worst] that most of the time he didn't noticed what he was doing, until he was
doing it, and then it was too late to prevent doing anything in the first
place.
It is like a reflex, an unconscious action, and as soon he realizes that he’s
doing it again, he runs like someone had set his figuratively tail on fire, but
of course it is too late then.
It must be a curse, or a potion, a spell, or something equally unnatural evil
doing that he constantly finds himself touching Stiles fricking Stilinski all
the fricking time!
It started quite understandable.
Scott McCall's annoying little sidekick was basically glued to his side, so
they ran into each other frequently, and since the boy was totally ignorant
about the danger he got himself into, Derek had to make a point on how
dangerous it was for humans to get themselves into werewolf business.
Derek wasn't the most patient man, and the constant babbling and interfering
put Stiles more often than not on the receiving end of a shove, growl or punch.
To make a point, of course, not to hurt him.
Except the stupid boy just didn't seem to get it. He was intimidated by Derek,
of course he was, but he was never ... scared. He flinches when Derek snaps at
him, but after, he doesn't distance himself, never looks at him with fear,
never looks at him like he was a dangerous animal.
Derek couldn't remember when someone was at such ease around him. And that
might've been another reason, like a tooth that just stopped hurting, he poked
at it again and again, waiting for the pain to happen.
But annoying, goofy, innocent Stiles wouldn't stop getting into his personal
space, challenging him, talking back at him, and worse, touching him, like he
was just some guy.
Like he was just a guy. Not a killer.
He says he’s scared of him, but his heartbeat doesn’t confirm it, even if the
boy has the metabolism of a squirrel.
He says it like stuff people just have to say, like ‘how are you’, or ‘have a
good day’, or ‘I am so sorry for your loss’ …
Even when Stiles had thought Derek was a killer, that he had murdered his own
sister and buried her behind the burned remains of his house and family, he
didn’t back off.
Even when Derek just showed up in his room [because it was a good hiding place.
Sole reason to go there]
Stiles was worried only about his Dad finding out, not for being in the same
room with a Werewolf that wasn't his best friend.
And somehow, that made Derek angry enough to shove him into the wall.
The only time Derek experienced a scared, totally freaked out Stiles had been
when he had asked him to saw off his arm!
Aside from that, Stiles remained bouncing into his personal space, and Derek –
His hands seem to be incapable to keep away from this flawless, milky white
skin.
It was easy, in comparison, for a while when he just managed to substitute his
need to touch with violence.
Not that it wasn’t uncalled for.
Seriously.
Like when the little spaz paraded him around in front of that poor classmate of
his, to get him to do some phone tracing.
Bad enough that the poor little guy was horribly embarrassed, and Derek felt
like a piece of meat, but Stiles himself didn't seem to be affected by this
curse, utterly oblivious of the tension between them, and that just wasn't
fair! Why did Derek had to suffer through this alone?
Not that he wanted Stiles to react to his semi-naked body, of course, that
would've been even more awkward.
Derek totally didn’t wanted Stiles to notice his body.
But whenever he’s around him, he’s feeling more restless, frustrated, and
nervous. Which is making him antsy and impatient, and he starts acting like a
growly, brooding dick. Also, while Derek is usually a well-spoken man, Stiles
is leaving him tongue-tied.
And for some stupid reason, he doesn’t want Stiles to see him like that!
But it is a vicious circle, he hates the way he acts around Stiles, but seems
to be unable to keep away from him.
Fate, of course, doesn’t make it easier for him.
Like when they’re stuck in the pool together, and Stiles is just holding him
for countless hours, giving him more support, both figuratively and literally,
than he had in years. It had to be a curse.
Derek was too embarrassed to talk to anyone about it, not to mention that he
didn’t had anyone he could confide with in the first place, but after the third
month when he drove by Stiles’ house in the middle of the night just to listen
to his heartbeat, Derek decides to swallow his pride.
***** The diagnose *****
“And, I have the feeling that it’s getting worse. Lashing out didn’t help,
keeping distance didn’t work, I didn’t find anything on a curse like that, so
you’re really my last hope.”
Deaton’s expression lies somewhere between sympathy and disbelief. And it
scares Derek more than any threat he ever faced. What if there wasn’t any cure?
What if he, and Stiles, were doomed for a horrible end?
Deaton takes a deep breath, and sits next to him. Cautious, like Derek is made
of glass. He can’t remember the last time someone treated him so tenderly. Oh
God, this has to be bad.
“So, this person we’re talking about here, whose name you don’t want to tell me
in case it’d put them in danger, you feel constantly drawn to, get nervous
around them, are very worried about, and can’t control the urge to touch?”
Derek nods.
“Tell me Derek, do you have any – physical symptoms yourself? Like, increased
heartbeat?”
“Uhm, yes, my pulse goes through the roof, my stomach tightens up, I get
sweaty, and can’t seem to be able to speak coherently. I feel like I’m turning
into a fricking Neanderthal every time.”
Deaton coughs, and seems to have trouble to break him the news.
“Come on Doc, whatever it is, I can take it. There’s got to be a cure, a
potion, something I can do to fix this!”
” Derek, I’m afraid there isn’t-“
” Just tell me! What curse is it???”

” The curse of nature, I’m afraid.”
“The – what?”
“Derek, you’re in love. And I am having a hard time not to burst out into a
hearty laughter right now. How on earth can you confuse a crush with a curse?
Surely you had to be in love before!”
“But - NO! This is not possible!”
Derek is pretty sure that’s what a heart attack must feel like. It surely ain’t
what love feels like! Derek remembers being in love. It was all butterflies in
his belly, gentleness and longing to touch. What he feels for Stiles couldn’t
be more far from this, hell most of the time the boy makes him angry enough to
shift!
Not to mention –
“I’m not even gay!”
Deaton gives a jump next to him.
“Jesus, Derek. Okay, I should have figured that there’s more to this when you
don’t want to tell me who we’re talking about.
He side-eyes Derek
Do you have any issues with being gay?”
“No, of course not, but I’ve never remotely been attracted to men. And I
haven’t had any of these thoughts about him!”
Deaton chuckles again.
“Well, obviously your brain is having a hard time catching up with your heart
on this. And the rest of your body too. But let me assure you that what you
feel is perfectly normal.”
“Love has never felt before like being choked with my own intestines.”
Deaton awkwardly pets his shoulder, and the healer suddenly looks younger, less
wise.
“You’re still young, Derek. Love has as many shades as the rainbow, and more
depths than the ocean. It can be soft, sweet and gentle, but also mean, cruel
and painful. And everything in between. Honestly, with a curse you’d be better
off.”
And Derek has no doubt that the Doc is right about that.
Oh boy, this is even harder than Derek expected, and he knew from the moment
the full extent of his situation has dawned to him that this was going to be a
nightmare.
He’d rather fought a Kanima Alpha Pack than dealing with this.
The most difficult part so far had been facing his own feelings. Due to some
cruel celestial planning, he was in love with Stiles Stilinski.
What a stupid name was that anyway.
He was pretty sure he didn’t even liked this kid!
Derek pinches his nose. The fact that Stiles was, legally and in pretty much
every other sense, a kid, was an issue he didn’t had the strength to consider
yet.
Breathe in, breathe out. Focus on the problem.
Okay, okay. In love. With Stiles Stilinski. In love.
Why?
Okay, Derek Hale is a lot, but he is no coward.
So, Stiles. He is really very smart, no one would argue with that. A wise-ass
and running by his mouth, but not stupid.
And he is brave. Considering how weak and defenseless he is, it’s a small
miracle. But his heart isn’t weak, he sticks out for others, and he never takes
the easy way out.
He is fiercely loyal to Scott, and even though they had a rough start, he
didn’t bail on Derek in the animal clinic.
And he wasn’t afraid of him. Every other person would’ve run as fast and far as
they could, or shit his pants when Derek threatened them, but Stiles talks back
to him, teases him, treats him like a person, not an animal. He knows all these
horrible things about Derek, but he never shows any disgust, fear or horror.
Derek gathers all his strength.
Being in love means more than appreciating someone’s character treats.
He visualizes Stiles’ appearance.
Skinny, pale, huge brown eyes usually gleaming with mischief, the body of a boy
still growing into it.
He wasn’t classically handsome like Jackson, or attractive like this poor boy
Danny, or cute like Scott.
But… when Derek closes his eyes, and recalls the way he smells, this sweet,
innocent, taunting smell, it feels like a fire being lit in his ribcage.
Damn.
Stiles smells like rosebuds and heather, soft and clean and innocent and
promising. Not arousing, not tempting [probably the reason he hasn’t found a
girlfriend yet, humans are painfully unaware how many of their “feelings” are
simple biochemistry]
but … hopeful. And like salted caramel or peanut butter chocolate, it becomes
more alluring by the time.
Being platonically in love would’ve been easier.
Not that Derek has any intentions to pursue – even the thought makes him blush
– a physical relationship with him.
A few weeks ago, he would’ve strongly denied pursuing any kind of relationship
at all, but the only one around to fool was himself, and a man could only lie
to himself for so long.
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