Like it or Not

The part that...

"So, what changed?" Stiles toed at the ground, throwing clay colored dust onto his sneakers. He had intended to get Derek to talk about Elijah while batting but he feared Derek wouldn't welcome the topic.

Derek swung, the ball hitting too low on the bat and flying into left field. He huffed, readjusting his position before answering.

"I'm not sure anything changed," he said before taking another swing. The ball connected but he knew the hit had been sub-par. It would have been caught easily in a game, rendering him out.

"What do you mean?" Stiles looked up at Derek, a frown tugging at his features, but the confusion went unnoticed as Derek concentrated on the ball coming in his direction.

"I just think we both viewed our relationship differently without realizing. We had our problems like any relationship, but nothing that made me doubt my affection for him or his for me," Derek spun the bat in his hand, glancing at Stiles for a moment.

Derek was caught by the way the setting sun spilled around Stiles, making him almost silhouetted against the backdrop. His hair reflected it off, almost making him look angelic. Derek had always known Stiles was attractive, but right now in this moment...he was stunning with his plaid button down blown open by the gentle breeze, the snug white undershirt clinging to his torso. His face cast in shadow and yet still as striking. Something about the ease of Stiles' posture and the casual attire had Derek tempted to pull Stiles into him. He adored Stiles, he always had, but in this moment, he was struck with just how smitten he actually was.

His attention was yanked back as a baseball flew passed him, slamming into the fence behind him.

Stiles cocked his head, "You okay?"

Derek cleared his throat before focusing his eyes to the pitching machine once again. "Just thinking about how much Elijah pisses me off," he lied.

"What about him exactly?" Stiles pursed his lips, waiting for Derek to snap at him or attempt a subject change.

"I just don't understand why I wasn't enough," Derek swung the bat and connected with a harsh crack.

Stiles once again noted the strength behind his swing but said nothing about it. Instead, he took a half step forward as if to reach out, but he paused.

"Who says you weren't?"

"Well, we're not together anymore," Derek spat, as he repositioned his bat.

Stiles' tongue swiped across his bottom lip. He was certain what he was about to say would be unwelcome.

"Why does there have to be someone to blame? Sometimes two people just...don't work together. Like you said, you think you two viewed your relationship differently. Maybe you were incompatible from the start, and it just took five years to realize."

Derek scoffed before he swung his bat with extra force. The ball cracked loudly against the metal sending it soaring well into the stands. He turned to Stiles with an unamused glare. He knew Stiles couldn't possibly understand why he felt the way he did, not when he didn't know the whole story, but the pain of it and honestly the embarrassment kept him from telling Stiles. Instead, he reached for that false animosity he often used to keep Stiles at bay.

"Are you my therapist or my date?" he snapped.

Stiles crossed his arms, leaning back against the wall, "Fun fact, those two aren't mutually exclusive. Communication is important in a relationship."

Derek held his bat out to Stiles, "In case you forgot, this isn't real."

Stiles stepped forward, reaching for the bat. He pulled it towards him before Derek could let go, forcing Derek to stumble forward, rendering them only a foot apart.

"This date, it's as real as it gets. So while there may not be feelings here," Stiles gestured to the space between them, "It's still happening sweetheart."

Derek's heart was racing. His eyes focused on Stiles,' daring not a glance to his mouth. His hand released the bat they were both holding.

Stiles saw the panic on Derek's face and couldn't help the smile that pulled at his lips.

"You're terrified I'm gonna kiss you right now," he laughed.

Derek wanted to object but Stiles wasn't wrong. He was terrified and yet he wanted it.

"You keep toying with me and one of these days I'm gonna call your bluff," Derek allowed his eyes to drop to Stiles' mouth.

Stiles ran his tongue along his bottom lip, "You wouldn't dare."

Derek knew Stiles was baiting him. He wanted to lean in, press his lips to Stiles'. He wanted to run his hands through his disheveled hair. But that terror kept him unmoving.

Stiles leaned forward.

Derek's body went rigid, as he pulled in a slow shaky breath.

Stiles' leaned in close, his own breath tickled Derek's ear as he whispered, "See?"

He stepped past Derek, a smug smirk on his face as he positioned himself.

Derek deflated with a drop of his head.

"Is this fun for you?" Derek asked, and despite the glare on his face, there was no heat in his tone.

"Hitting baseballs or freaking you out?" Stiles grinned at Derek as the baseball he'd just hit soared through the air.

Derek shook his head. Part of him adored Stiles, but part of him wanted to hate him. He knew that part was the part that made him tense when Stiles got close. The part that made his heart race when the conversation got too serious. The part that kept him frozen when he wanted nothing more than to pull Stiles in. The part that had him convinced he wasn't good enough. 

*AN*
Hey guys I know it's been a minute. I've been working on a couple new ideas. I'm excited to share them with you soon so keep an eye out! 😊