Title: The Same Place
Rating: PG
Pairing: Derek/Stiles
Spoilers: None
Warnings: Slash, established relationship, fluff
Word Count: 487 words
Disclaimer: Oh, how I wish they were mine. But nothing here belongs to me, except for the plot.
Summary: Sometimes he felt like he and Derek were two sides of the same coin, so different but belonging together. Always fighting, never really in the same place but unable and unwilling to ever seperate.
Author's notes: Unbeta'd. Written for the prompt "swing, coin, sky" at TeenwolfSlash.
Stiles had grown much taller over the last few years and his legs were too long to swing anymore but he used to spend every day at the playground until he was about twelve and there were so many happy memories tied to this place. His mom always sat on one of the benches at the side, watching him play and chatting with one of their neighbors or talking to his dad on the phone. Stiles had built so many sandcastles over the years, showing her every single one proudly.
Stiles always came back here when he just couldn't bear it anymore. There was comfort here, in the smell of earth and candy, in the squeaking noise the seesaw made and in the memory of warmth and laughter carried by the wind, hugging him like the old, fluffy blanket his mom had made for him when he was still a baby.
He could hear the sound of gravel crunching underneath heavy boots behind him but he didn't have to turn around to know who it was.
"Scott said I'd find you here." Derek appeared next to him, leaning against the metal pole of the swing.
Stiles snorted quietly and shrugged. He knew Derek would show up eventually and maybe part of him had counted on it. Sometimes he felt like he and Derek were two sides of the same coin, so different but belonging together. Always fighting, never really in the same place but unable and unwilling to ever seperate.
"I didn't mean what I said," Derek continued quietly, staring at the cloudy sky above them, "you know that, right?"
Stiles bit his bottom lip until it stung to keep from jumping up and yelling at Derek, possibly punching him and breaking his hand in the process.
"Then why did you say it?" he asked instead, hating how small and vulnerable his voice sounded. He didn't want to be the wronged girlfriend here.
"I don't know." came the equally quiet reply and Stiles rolled his eyes. Seriously, was that all he got?
"It was stupid and I shouldn't have said it. I'm sorry. I don't feel like that, I-. . I love you." Derek turned his head to look at him, his eyes dark and hopeful when Stiles glanced up at him. It wasn't the first time Derek said it but it was rare and Stiles knew that he meant it, knew how much it cost him to show himself open and vulnerable like that.
"Love you too." Stiles murmured and stood up, brushing the sand from his jeans. "But you're an asshat and if you ever say something like that to me again, I'm kicking your ass."
Derek chuckled at that but nodded. "Okay."
He threaded his fingers in between Derek's and lightly tugged at his hand. "Let's go home, I'm freezing my ass off here."
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