The next morning Stiles rolled over, never truly feeling like he gone to sleep at all. Just kept his eyes fixed on the ceiling and waited for himself to slowly slip away. But he couldn’t, and the slowly rising sun outside was proof he never did. His body had been exhausted and just and emptied out from the night before. It was his mind that kept him awake.
He was meeting Derek that day. A large part of him wanted to cancel, tell the man he’d changed it mind and be able to go about his business. But Stiles had the sense Derek wouldn’t let that happen. Someway, somehow he’d find a way to get through to the baker.
Stiles showed up to find Derek had beat him there. He was teetering on his feet with his hands deep in his pockets. Stiles took a moment to admire him, he looked excited and at the same time terrified and Stiles wasn’t sure how that could be. Stiles found it kind of cute, Derek was trying and Stiles—well Stiles was overwhelmed. He smiled when he finally reached the entrance of the shop and silently unlocked the entrance. Derek was crowding behind him into the store before he closed the door tight behind the two.
“It’s cold out today” Derek started, as he tried to create conversation. And Stiles sucked, because he didn’t know what to say or do. He responded with a chuckle as he slid his coat off and walked the man to the kitchen. Stiles had to repeatedly remind himself that Derek knew, everything had been brought to light and he didn’t have to be afraid to speak anymore. Still, it seemed like he could never find the words.
The young baker began to suit up, turning his back to the man as he strapped his favorite apron to his chest. When Stiles was able to face him again Derek had on an apron that was stained with yesterdays batch, no doubt it belonged to Isaac. Free of his coat Stiles could see he was wearing another fitted henley that exposed his tan forearms. Stiles tried to shut out the sudden feeling of wanting them wrapped around him “So what can I do?” Derek clapped his hands together with a grin, pulling Stiles’ attention.
Stiles cleared his throat, letting his eyes wander until they fell on something reasonable “Can you frost?”
“Not well I’m afraid” he laughed “Which is disappointing since my mother owns her own restaurant. You’d think I’d have some concept of cooking” Stiles was shocked and added that to the growing list of things he knew about Derek.
“That’s okay” Stiles tried. He glanced around the kitchen once more before settling his eyes on the bowls in front of him “Here how about you finish this batter and pour it into the tins” it was a simple task Stiles was sure he could finish quickly. Which only meant Derek would be back over his shoulder asking for his next job soon. It would have to suffice for the time being since Stiles kind of felt on the spot. Isaac knew everything and fell into it easily doing everything and anything without being told. But Derek was not Isaac, and he wasn’t there to collect a check. Stiles think it would be easier to just cut him one of those and that be that.
“I think I can do that” Derek flashed a large smile, different from his worried attitude the night prior, and got to work mixing the ingredients as Stiles started cutting out sheets of decorations for the cakes. He was thankful for the silence that fell over them for the first few minutes.
Unfortunately, his mind thought this would be the time to explore everything about Derek. Glancing across the room Stiles could very quickly note that he was left handed, his brows knitted together when he tried to concentrate. As he read the recipe card Stiles has given him he found that the man liked to read aloud, and would repeat the words so he wouldn’t mess up measurements. Stiles couldn’t help but smile, this man didn’t seem like the harsh person Stiles pried himself on never having feelings for.
Wrapped up in himself he’d lost track of the world around him, then all at once Derek was beside him, smelling all types of good as he started to pour up more cupcakes into tins “So what made you go into baking?”
Stiles had to breath, mentally telling himself to for us on each word or the whole thing would come out a jumbled mess. So he put the words together first, the tries to let the fall out naturally “Oh. I used to cook with my mother who, learned how to cook from my grandfather, who learned how to cook from some wandering gypsy he’d met” Stiles laughed “All this knowledge I figured at least one of us should do something with it”
“And Claudia’s Sweets?” Derek asked, jerking his head to the sign outside “Is that your mother?”
“Yeah. That’s where the periwinkle blue boxes come from too, her favorite color”
“Well, assuming she doesn’t hate me too much because of your soul words it would be nice to meet her some day”
“She actually died when I was eleven. You’re not off the hook though, my dad might be a little hard to win over” Stiles tried to speak all in one breath. He couldn’t leave room for apologies, he had endured enough of them in his life time.
Derek, taking the hint, switched the subject “Do you have plans once you’re done here?”
He wanted to lie, Stiles felt so awkward. In all honesty he could admit it was more his fault and not Derek’s, he just wouldn’t allow himself to relax. He wanted his time with Derek to end so he could go home, but something inside, call it his guilty conscience, popped up as soon as he tried to lie. So instead he spoke the truth “No. I usually drop off left over cookies to my elderly neighbor then head home”
“If you aren’t too exhausted would you want to grab dinner? I could get us reservations at my moms restaurant” Derek asked, with a pleading look on his face that Stiles definitely didn’t miss.
“Sure” he got out, without really giving him time to argue with himself. Derek had this way about him that made Stiles want to give in. He denied himself the thought that maybe it had something to do with their bond. It didn’t matter that Stiles had fought their connection for so long because now they were here and it was like for a moment nothing bad had happened between the two.
As time went on Stiles tried to let himself ease into the situation. He laughed when Derek made a joke, he didn’t tense up as much when they would graze past each other in the kitchen. He would listen intently when Derek told a story about himself.
They were so close to being done for the day when Stile realizes that Derek had gone quiet, he hadn’t heard anything from him since their last conversation about Derek being mistakenly arrested in high school. When he turned to check on the man he was scarfing away at a treat in his hand. Stiles’ jaw dropped and he shook his head.
“Derek!” Stiles gasped, speaking before his mind reminded him he wasn’t supposed to be speaking to Derek so carefree “Are you eating a cupcake?” The words flew from his mouth and Stiles didn’t think, it felt like he could just naturally be comfortable with Derek.
“I made three extra by accident and I didn’t think it would hurt to try one” Stiles snickered an actually laugh as Derek explained himself, and took another big bite “They came out great if that makes it better” This time the cupcake grazed against his nose as he bit down smearing blue frosting there. The young baker stared in amusement as the man popped the last piece in his mouth.
“You’ve got frosting on your nose” Stiles stepped forward, leaving his bubble and walking towards Derek for the first time that day. He snagged a tissue and let out a tiny giggle.
Derek laughed playfully before going cross eyed and swiping it off with his finger instead. Suddenly the laughter was dying down and Stiles took note of how close they actually were. Derek took a long debating look at the blue frosting before rubbing it off his finger and onto the brim of the bakers jaw. Stiles felt his body stiffen as Derek just stared intently “You’ve got frosting on your cheek” he whispered.
“Oh” Stiles squeaked. Besides a few times Scott had fallen asleep with his sleeping bag a little too close, he had never been so close to anyone before. Derek braced a hand on the table behind the boy, bracketing him in. Derek was all the way in his space and he gently kissed the skin there, eating the sweet treat off his jawline as he did.
“Got it” he whispered, pulling away.
Stiles swallowed thickly, his amber eyes locked in Derek’s. All he could think to do was duck out from under the mans embrace and raced to the other end of the kitchen. Derek didn’t speak of it again, and neither did Stiles.
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