Chapter Text
When Derek arrived on Earth, his first impression was…overhyped. It was a great planet, for sure. Scenic, fertile, docile. It had been fairly easy to get here. So he was not complaining, necessarily.
But, over the years, he had visited many planets just like this one. He was not sure why Earth ranked so highly on so many interstellar travel lists. He must be missing something.
Until Derek saw him sitting alone at a table in the campus library.
Suddenly, it all made sense. If Earth made boys like him, Earth was his favorite planet in the cosmos.
Derek scanned the young man’s biomarkers and did not find any signs of Elevated Humanity…which meant he was just a common human…and yet he was prettier than anyone Derek had ever seen. The implications were profound.
Luckily, the boy was the only person in the library—considering it was midnight. Well beyond its closing time.
“Hello. My name is Derek.” He sat down next to the boy.
The boy startled. He must have been hyperfocused. Or perhaps he was hypersensitive. Charming either way.
“Uh, hello. Can I help you with something?”
“What is your name?”
“My name is…Theo,” he lied. “It’s nice to meet you but I’m just trying to study here.”
“Stiles.” Derek smirked.
“Um, what the—“
“Your name, Stiles, is on your notebook, your water bottle, and your student identification card.” He illustrated the last point by grabbing the lanyard around Stiles’ neck, gently but firmly. “Stiles is a lovely name. Why did you say your name was Theo?” Derek tilted his head, curiously.
“Um…” instead of responding, he just stared at Derek’s hand clutching his lanyard. His eyes were wide.
“Do you wish your name to be Theo?”
The human, Stiles, did not respond. But his mouth opened and closed as if he were trying to think of a response.
Derek sensed he was making Stiles uncomfortable so he released his grip on the lanyard and placed a comforting hand on his thigh instead.
“I will call you Theo, if you would like. However, I prefer Stiles.”
“Stiles is fine.” His voice cracked—he did not sound fine at all. Perhaps he did not like the name Stiles and he also did not like the name Theo. Perhaps he was looking for a new name but had not found one that felt right yet. Fortunately, Derek had already planned on giving the boy his last name. Hale. If needed, he would be delighted to help his companion pick a new first name as well.
But Derek was getting ahead of himself, per usual. He refocused his attention on the present moment: His human seemed upset.
Derek squeezed the boy’s thigh tighter as a gesture of support. He traced circles with his thumb.
“Can you please let go of my leg?” His companion’s voice was small and weak, almost frightened. The request confused him.
Stiles is clearly distressed by my touch—so it would make sense for me to remove my hand.
However, Stiles clearly needs to be comforted—which is why I placed my hand on his thigh in the first place. My touches are famously comforting.
After some thought, he opted to remove his hand. Then he slid across the bench, nearer to Stiles, until their sides were pressed against each other.
Happy with his decision, Derek picked the conversation back up from where they left off.
“Why did you introduce yourself as Theo?”
“I- uh…I’m sorry. Don’t take it personally but I don’t like giving my name out to…random strangers,” he stammered. His eyes scanned the room wildly, as if he were searching for something.
“For what are you searching?”
“I’ve gotta go. It was nice to meet you, Derek. But my friend is waiting for me outside.”
“I would like to meet your friend,” Derek said earnestly. He could not wait to meet his companion’s friend.
Before Stiles could protest, Derek grabbed his hand and helped him up. He squeezed their interlaced fingers three times, committing the milestone to memory. The first time I held my companion’s hand.
“I know it might be unconventional, but I will let you lead the way,” Derek said. “Although, you are alittle guy and seem quite soft, I pride myself in being a progressive, modern man. Also, I am not sure where to find your friend.”
Derek extended his free hand, as if to say: after you.
Stiles swallowed hard. Derek loved the way it looked.