The intensity in the room was at an all time high. Sweaty hands trembled and there was a pit in Stiles’ stomach that made him feel uneasy, and not the good kind. He couldn’t afford to ask Derek if he felt the same, the shakiness in his own voice would give away his own fear. Instead he cocked an eyebrow, gripping tight at the cards in his hands finally daring to peer over them. Derek and his hazel eyes were already there gazing back at his boyfriend, there was no mercy in them as he spoke “Do you have any four’s?”
Stiles threw a card forward huffing with the action, pretty soon he was going to get tired of getting his ass kicked at goldfish “Tell the truth, you’re cheating”
“Or maybe you just have a tell baby” Stiles tossed his hand of cards down, throwing his head onto the mattress behind him. The last day and a half consisted of making out, taking a bath together, and card games and unfortunately for Derek Stiles didn’t know very many “Hey I offered strip poker”
“I don’t know how play poker”
“Yeah, but we both know how to strip” Derek whispered huskily. As he did he attempted to crawl over and kiss Stiles only to buckle under his still sore ankle “Shit”
Stiles’ own symptoms had long since been gone with the exception of few hives here and there. Derek’s ankle however was still a bit sore to the touch despite no longer being red and lumpy and the bruise on his shoulder ached anytime he moved “You should really be careful on that” he took one look at Derek’s face and shut down the doubt that was bound to come out “Don’t”
“I didn’t say anything”
“Yeah but you were going too. I know things have been a bit unorthodox and sure we could be doing all of this in the comfort of our own home, but we’re not. And that’s okay, because it’s still you and me, we have each other and that’s all we really need for a good time”
“I love you” Stiles, feeling extra generous, crawled to Derek instead, locking their lips in a soft chaste manner. It was just enough for Stiles to catch a sly smile on the man’s face once he pulled back “You know, I’m pretty sure there is a jacuzzi downstairs” Derek tried.
Stiles spoke, while he absentmindedly gathered the cards, maybe he could talk Derek into a game of memory “I thought we already checked ‘bubble bath’ off of our list” Stiles says with a blush as he remembers cuddling up and making out until his lips throbbed in a sea of bubbles.
“They are not the same thing”
“Anyways how do you suspect we get you down stairs my hobbling pirate”
“I just need help to the elevator then help to the courtyard” he offered Derek a look that clearly said ‘really’ like Stiles could hold his own with Derek. He stood, gripping the nearby dresser for support “Calm down I’m not asking you to hold me, just a bit of support would be nice. It’s the least we could do to get out of this room for a bit” and like he always does, Derek wore him down to the bone and Stiles folded.
Forty-five minutes later as Stiles had his boyfriend all settled into the bubbling, steaming jacuzzi. It took just about as long as Stiles expected getting Derek down the hall and across the hotel but he did it. Derek looked as relaxed and at peace as he could, Stiles hoped the warm water was helping his sore parts..
“How’s that ankle doing baby?” Stiles asked, floating in the water beside him. He stayed cuddled right next to him despite being the only two there.
“Funny, I’d almost forgotten about it, this water is so soothing” Minutes of silence passed as the two men sat there enjoying their time together. It was peaceful for the both of them just knowing the other was there. It wasn’t a bad way to end the trip Stiles thought, feeling himself begin to sweat from the heat of the water.
He was glancing over to check on Derek when he noticed a couple quickly making their way for the jacuzzi. Stiles was enjoying the alone time and knew it would look rude if he suddenly dragged Derek from the water. So he let it happen, watching with dread as they got closer and closer.
It take long before they were suddenly within earshot enough for Stiles to make out the sound of their flip flops when a woman spoke “Mind if we join?”
Stiles plastered on a fake smile and nodded “Um sure, of course”
“Guess you two had the same idea as us” She was a beautiful woman with a grin plastered to her face. Her brown hair had bright red streaks through it and sat up in a bun “I’m Braeden, this is Garrett “
“Derek, and this is Stiles” Derek spoke up with the wave of his hand.
Stiles did better with silence than talking so he was hoping for that. But his prayers had gone unheard as he watched the bubbly woman settle in and begin to talk “We’re on vacation”
“Us too” he answered.
She’d begun to tighten her lime green bikini with no regard to the company around her as she spoke “You guys from here?”
“New York” Stiles answered when Derek didn’t. It seemed as though he and Braeden would be carrying the conversation. The man beside her hadn’t appeared to be the slightest bit interested.
“Oh city boys, how cool. I’ve always wanted to go there, we’re from Florida. Yeah driving up the coast and back down again just for the hell of it” Stiles nodded just to show he was listening. Carrying conversation with strangers was not his forte and Derek wasn’t helping in any way, at this point he was just waiting for her to talk so he could respond “So are you two…?” she’d begun to ask letting the question trail off. Were they gay, business partners, hungry Stiles panicked unsure of what she was implying.
Derek was the one to answer, lacing his fingers with Stiles’ own beneath the water where no one could see, so it had just been for the hell of it “We’re mates, yeah”
“Aw how sweet. Babe isn’t that sweet”
“The sweetest” Garrett wasn’t particularly chipper with his answer, less than enthusiastic. A douche if you asked Stiles. His dirty blonde hair pushed down the back of head, sunglasses on his face despite it being just about pitch black outside with the exception of a couple building lights. The more he watched the two interact Garrett seemed as though he could care less if the woman beside him was there or not.
Derek was giving the impression of being uninterested the second Garrett opened his mouth so he simply stretched his arms the length of the pool behind him, throwing his head back with his eyes closed. Derek had mentioned never being fond of double dates and being ambushed into one wasn’t going over well either.
Flinging water droplets everywhere Braeden smiled at the group as she slung her hands up and across her chest “I had myself one of those. But he wanted the suburban house wife. Stay at home soccer mom with his dinner cooked and a drink ready as soon as he walked through the door” she snickered to herself and Stiles couldn’t help but wonder what she might be on, if anything “But that sure as hell ain’t me, I’m a wild child at heart. So I hit the road until I found my real soulmate”
Stiles had to stop himself from looking at the man across from him and asking for his story and how he’d ended up there, but if he was right the talkative girl would get to that in good time. So instead, the young man continued rubbing circles into Derek’s leg beneath the water as he remained indifferent, still sitting reclined with his head thrown back barely paying any attention and enjoying the heat.
“Garrett here had a mate too. Green eyes, 5’5″, blonde gorgeous model type”
“What happened?” Stiles asked. Braeden met him with a grin, shocked the boy was actually paying attention and speaking up again.
“She didn’t love him. Not the way he deserved at least, but that’s fine because I’ve got enough for the both of us don’t I?” The young man grinned and worried that the conversation was getting a little too deep for a couple they’d just met. Though the two didn’t seem to mind.
Garrett smiled slyly Braeden’s way before speaking. He still had that nonchalant tone in his voice as he sunk a little deeper, sending the water up to cover his entire chest “The whole thing is just a ploy really, soul words and everything that comes with them. A stupid ploy to give us all something to be hopeful for. But in reality it’s just a big let down. It’s never really love, you think the mark on your body binds you to someone and the both of you feel obligated to make it something. There are stories about it being so successful but those people aren’t happy, they just force themselves to be because they believe that is the only person for them” He wrapped an arm around the giggly girl beside him, kissing her cheek and showing her the first sign of real attention that night before pulling away again “Not me, I didn’t buy into that shit” Stiles could only guess the man had been hurt, and rather than admit that, he’s decided to blame the world. At least that was his own story at some point.
Stiles turned when the water next to him began sloshing and he watched as Derek pulled himself up and out of the water “We should get back to our room” he gave Stiles a look that he knew all too well and realized it was time to get out of dodge.
“Oh no, don’t go. I’ve got games we can play” Braeden spoke with an enthusiasm that mirrored a child’s. Garrett, on the other hand, was smiling smugly, as if he thought he had hit a nerve.
Stiles was intrigued and terrified as he continued to leave the water despite her protest “I wish we could, but we’ve got to get on the road in the morning” he left them with a wave before grabbing their towels and throwing Derek’s arm over his shoulder.
Back at their room Derek was talking about what movie they should watch for their last night when Stiles zones out. Derek hadn’t brought up anything that was said that night, and Stiles knew it was because he thought it was all bull shit. But it sure as hell had been stuck in his own head and he couldn’t help but think “Is that what I sounded like?” all those years he went dreading love and generally the idea of mates, convincing himself it wasn’t all it was made up to be. He can admit he was bitter and might have agreed with everything the man had said had it been a year ago. But laying there that night looking at Derek as he stressfully tried to decide between Die Hard and The Holiday and every single magical moment that had come before Stiles can’t help but call bullshit on every word that left their mouths that night.
“Babe” Derek called out tossing a stray pillow at his head “Hey, you okay?”
“Yeah. Yeah of course, I’m here with you aren’t I?” he responded briskly, quickly putting his attention back on the moment before him “Actually there is something that’s been bothering me just a bit…Your very weird obsession with Bruce Willis”
“Are you crazy? It isn’t weird, it’s reasonable. The man is amazing and an American treasure” Derek snatched the remote before getting completely comfortable in bed beside his boyfriend “Die Hard it is”
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