Archive of Our Own ^beta

Derek’s just finishing up making dinner when he hears it— tires screeching outside and a car door slamming, followed by a frantic heartbeat along with feet running up the walkway and then the stairs. 

He turns off the burner and races to the door. He reaches it before Theo, who stops, stumbles back a step, as if he hadn't been expecting to see Derek standing in his own house. “Derek.”

“Theo,” Derek says. He frowns, glancing behind him for any sign of someone chasing him because Theo's heart is still beating a mile a minute. “What—” Then he smells it. Blood. He takes Theo by the arm and pulls him into the house. He takes a better look at Theo now that they're inside, and he mentally curses when he takes in the state of him. There's blood coating his clothes and his hands. "You're covered in blood, need to tell me something?”

Theo glances around as if he's expecting someone to pop out and grab him. "Can you lock the door?”

Derek moves past him and locks the door, turning the deadbolt for good measure. He faces Theo again and crosses his arms. “Talk.”

Theo sighs and looks down at the blood on his hands. He grimaces. “I was driving home from Liam's when I saw a car stopped on the side of the road. The hood was open, and a woman was standing there next to it, so I thought I'd stop and see if she needed help. But she wasn't alone. As soon as I was out of my truck and walking towards her, two men came out of the woods holding guns.”

“Shit,” Derek says. His eyes scan down Theo's body, looking for any sign of injury. “Are you hurt?”

Theo shakes his head. “They were bad shots. New hunters who wanted to prove themselves. But they had knives too, and… the woman wasn't actually with them. They had her daughter and threatened to kill her if she didn't do what they asked.”

“So, it was a trap,” Derek says, feeling the anger start to simmer under his skin.

“Yeah, and I fell right into it.” He tugs on his hair, and Derek notices the blood caked under his nails. “I didn't want to hurt anyone, Derek. You have to believe me. But they were going to kill the girl and her mom. I could hear the lie when they told the woman they'd let them go. And they still had the knife to the girl's throat. It happened so fast. I asked them to stop, and one of them said I'd have to make them. Assholes. I planned to knock the knives away and knock them out, but they tried to take the girl and…” Theo shakes his head and curls his hands into fists at his sides. “I didn't mean to kill anyone.”

He says the last part softer, and Derek can hear the truth of the words. "There's nothing you could have done.”

“You weren't there,” Theo mutters. “You don't know that.”

“I know you,” Derek says. 

It's the truth. He's learned a lot about Theo in the two years since he returned to Beacon Hills, and even more in the year they've been living together. He knows about Theo's past, sure. He knows all the things he's done. But he's seen how hard he's been working at building a better life for himself. He's not perfect, neither of them are. But they're trying , and that has to mean something.

“I can hear you're telling the truth,” Derek adds. “And even if I couldn't, I'd still believe you, because I know the man you are, Theo.”

Theo shakes his head. “Are you sure I don't just have you fooled? That's what everyone's going to say when they hear what happened. That I've just been pretending and the real Theo came out to play again.”

“Then they'd be wrong,” Derek says, stepping closer. “Because I know the real Theo, and he's standing right in front of me.”

“They're going to come for me,” Theo whispers.

Derek knows he's probably right. Especially since there were witnesses, it probably wouldn't be long until someone came knocking on their door. But Derek would be ready.

"I'm not going to let anyone hurt you,” Derek tells him. “I promise.”

“You can't make that sort of promise,” Theo says.

Derek knows he's right. With everything they've been through, they both know that's not something either of them can promise. And yet…

“I don't care,” Derek says. “I meant it, Theo. No one is going to hurt you while I'm around.”

Theo releases a breath and meets his gaze. “Then I guess you'd better stick around.”

Derek smiles and brushes the loose strand of hair off his forehead. “I plan to.”

Theo closes his eyes and his shoulders relax slightly, his heart slowing to a more reasonable rate. Derek leans in, brushing his lips softly against Theo's— A promise all its own.

“Go get cleaned up,” Derek says and takes a step back. “I'll finish dinner.”

“You really want to eat right now?” Theo asks him.

Derek shrugs. “It would be a shame for the food to go to waste.”

Theo's eyes scan his face for a moment before he nods and heads to the stairs. Derek goes back to the kitchen, turning the burners back up as he hears the water turn on upstairs. 

A few minutes later, he hears a muffled sob from the bathroom. He takes a breath, willing himself to stay put even as he longs to go to Theo. But he doesn't want to intrude on this private moment. He knows that if Theo needed him, he would ask. It's a silent agreement they both have. 

The water shuts off, and then there's only silence for a few long minutes. Derek does think of going then, and has almost made it out of the kitchen when he hears Theo start moving again.

He turns around, grabs the plates and silverware, and places them on the table, along with the food. Theo walks in as he's finishing up, freshly showered and hair still damp. He's wearing jeans and one of his favorite hoodies.

“It smells good,” Theo says, breaking the silence stretching between them.

Derek offers him a small smile as he takes his seat. “Well, hopefully it tastes good, too.”

“I'm sure it will,” Theo says. “It always does.”

They eat mostly in silence. It's not necessarily uncomfortable, but Derek can tell there's still a lot weighing on Theo's mind. He keeps glancing at Derek before looking away again, the moment he realizes Derek’s noticed. And Derek does notice, but only because he can't keep his own eyes off Theo.

“Are we going to talk about it?” Theo asks him finally.

Derek raises an eyebrow. “About what?”

“You kissed me,” Theo says. 

“I did,” Derek says. He puts his fork down as he turns his attention entirely to Theo.

“Was it—” Theo sighs and rubs a hand down his face. “Look, I get it if you were just trying to distract me or calm me down or whatever…”

Derek frowns. “That's not why I did it.”

Theo nods. “Okay. So it… Did it mean something?”

Derek reaches out, covering Theo's hand with his. “Of course, it meant something. You mean something to me. I just didn't want to push. Hell, I probably shouldn't have even done it with everything else that's happened tonight.”

“I'm glad you did,” Theo says.

Derek smiles. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Theo turns his hand over, lacing his fingers through Derek’s. “There's just one problem.”

“What's that?” Derek asks him.

“You didn't exactly give me a chance to kiss you back,” Theo says. 

“And is that something you want to do?” Derek asks, needing to be sure.

Theo rolls his eyes. “Yes, Derek. I want to kiss you.”

Derek smiles and leans in. Theo meets him halfway, hooking a hand behind his neck as he pulls him in, kissing him deeply. Derek sighs and pulls him closer, melting into the kiss.

I love you. 

The words are there on the tip of his tongue, but he doesn't say them. Not yet. Not when this thing between them is still so new. The last thing he wants is to scare Theo off with something he might not be ready for. He tells himself that they've got time. And this—having Theo in his arms —is enough. For now.

When they're done with dinner, Derek brings the dishes to the sink and rinses them off before loading them into the dishwasher with the other dirty dishes. When he's done, he turns to look for Theo. He finds him in the living room in front of the window. 

Derek steps up behind him, his hands twitching with the need to reach out. Until he finally gives in and wraps his arms around Theo, pulling him back against his chest and resting his head on his shoulder. 

“What's on your mind?” Derek asks him.

“What isn't?” Theo sighs and turns in Derek’s arms, looking up at him as he places his hands on his chest. “I'm going to turn myself in.”

Derek tenses. “Theo…”

“It's the right thing to do,” Theo says. “I know I haven't always done the right thing, but I need to do this, Derek. I was going to run, you know? I was in my truck, speeding away, and then I thought of you. And for once, I had something to run towards, not away from.”

Derek knows the feeling. He's spent so much of his life running. It wasn't until recently that he found a reason to stay. And now… “I would have run with you.”

“I know,” Theo says. “But I couldn't ask that of you. You have a life here, Derek.”

“So do you,” Derek reminds him. Not that Theo really needs the reminder of what he could be giving up. “And you're sure this is what you want to do?”

Theo nods. “I am.”

Derek sighs and kisses the top of his head. “Okay, but I'm going with you.”

“Derek…”

“I'm going, Theo,” Derek says. “And we'll talk to the Sheriff together. Make him see that it was self-defense and you were protecting that mother and her daughter.”

“Well then, I guess we should go,” Theo says.

Derek shakes his head and pulls Theo closer. “In the morning.”

“Derek…”

“The Sheriff will be there then,” Derek reminds him. “And he should be the one we talk to first. That's your best chance.”

“Do you think he'll believe me?” Theo asks him.

“Yes,” Derek says. 

He knows Sheriff Stilinski and Theo have their own history, but he's also seen the work Theo's been putting in. Derek has to believe that will be enough. That he'll hear the whole story and at least understand why Theo did what he did. 

If not, well, Derek still isn't opposed to busting Theo out and running. He just hopes it doesn't come to that.

For now, they have the night together. Derek tells himself it's only their first and not their last.

When the morning comes, Derek drives Theo to the station. Sheriff Stilinski is standing at his office door when they walk in. He's not alone, though. There's a woman and a young girl with him who can't be more than five years old. 

Theo gasps. “That's them.”

And of course it is. They'd been there to see what happened. Of course, the woman would come in to give a statement. Derek just hopes it's somewhat in Theo's favor.

“There he is now,” the Sheriff says, nodding in their direction.

The woman turns, and her eyes land on Theo. She gasps and hurries across the room towards them. Theo's tense next to him, and Derek himself tenses, not knowing what to expect. 

Then she throws her arms around Theo, hugging him. “You saved our lives,” she whispers. “Thank you.”

She pulls back and smiles at him before glancing behind her at her daughter. She beckons her forward, and the young girl approaches. “Someone else wants to thank you. Right, Isabel?”

The girl looks up at Theo with wide eyes. Then she, too, wraps her arms around Theo. “Thank you for saving us from the bad men.”

Theo swallows thickly and pats her back. “You're welcome. I'm glad you're both okay.”

“I'm sorry for putting you in that situation,” the woman says. 

“You did what you had to do to protect your daughter,” Theo says.

“Still,” the woman says. “I told the Sheriff everything. Including how the men threatened Isabel's life if I didn't lure you there, and that you were only trying to protect us when they tried to kill her anyway. I asked him to go easy on you.”

Theo only looks at her with wide eyes. Derek knows this isn't what he was expecting when he planned to come turn himself in.

“That's very kind of you,” Derek says when Theo seems too at a loss for words. “Thank you...”

“Maritza,” she says. “Your partner is very brave.”

Partner. The two haven’t yet given a name to what they are. But Derek likes the sound of the word. He smiles and squeezes Theo's hand. “He certainly is.”

“You two can come talk at any time,” the Sheriff says from inside his office.

Theo sighs. “He doesn't sound happy.”

“I think that's just his tone,” Derek says. 

“I'll leave you to it,” Maritza says. “Thank you, again, Theo.”

She smiles and takes her daughter's hand before walking out of the station. Derek uses his grip on Theo's hand to lead him across the room to the Sheriff's office. He glances up from the papers on his desk and nods for Derek to close the door. 

He leans back in his seat and gestures at the couch across from his desk. “Might as well make yourselves comfortable.”

Theo sighs and takes a seat on the couch with Derek taking the seat next to him. “How much trouble am I in?”

“I have two dead bodies,” the Sheriff says. “Not exactly a good look.”

“They weren't good people,” Theo says, leaning back against the couch. He's a picture of calm, but Derek knows he's anything but. “They tried to slit a little girl's throat and kill her mother.”

“And you,” Derek reminds him.

Sheriff Stilinski sighs. “Yes, I got the mother's statement, and the daughters. They think you're some sort of hero.”

“We both know I'm not,” Theo says.

Derek frowns. “Theo.”

“We both know I have too much blood on my hands to be a real hero, Derek,” Theo says. 

“Maybe so,” Sheriff Stilinski says. “But you are in their eyes, and that counts for something. And then there's the fact that you showed up here clearly prepared to turn yourself in. I've never been your biggest fan. We both know that. But the Theo that first came back to this town never would have willingly walked into this station.”

Hope springs in Derek’s chest. Maybe, just maybe, they can walk away from this.

“So, are you arresting me?” Theo asks him.

“No, I'm not,” the Sheriff says. “But I can't exactly let you walk out of here scot-free either.”

“So, what does that mean?” Theo questions.

Sheriff Stilinski smiles. “It means we're going to be seeing a whole lot more of each other, kid.”

Theo frowns. “What?”

“I worked out a deal for you to come work here,” Sheriff Stilinski says. “Not forever, of course. Just a few months. Unless you decide you like it and want to stick around.”

“What exactly would I be doing?” Theo asks. 

“Just office stuff,” the Sheriff says. “For now. Our receptionist is retiring next month, so we need someone to help until we find a permanent replacement.”

“Right,” Theo says.

“You were just saying you needed a job,” Derek says. Though they both know this probably wasn't what he'd been thinking of when he'd said it. “And it's better than jail.”

Theo glances over at him, and Derek smiles, rubbing his thumb across his wrist. Theo's heart skips, and Derek’s smile widens.

Theo rolls his eyes before turning back to the Sheriff. “Alright, I'll do it.”

“Smart choice,” Sheriff Stilinski says. “Delores will email you with the details, so just make sure she has your email before you go.”

Theo stands and heads to the door, with Derek rising to follow. He's almost made it to the door when the Sheriff calls him back. 

“Stay a moment, Derek,” he says. 

“You go ahead,” Derek says. “Talk to Delores, and I'll catch up with you.”

Theo looks between Derek and the Sheriff before he shrugs, drops Derek’s hand, and walks out the door. Derek closes the door behind him and turns to face the Sheriff.

“What's going on?” Derek asks him. 

“That's what I was about to ask you,” Sheriff Stilinski says. “I wasn't aware you and Theo were… an item.”

“It's new,” Derek says.

The Sheriff nods. “And I suppose it was your influence that got him to come down here?”

Derek raises an eyebrow. “Actually, it was all his idea, and I tried to talk him out of it. But he said turning himself in was the right thing to do.” The Sheriff nods but remains silent. Derek sighs. “You said it yourself that the Theo that first came back to Beacon Hills wouldn't have turned himself in. He's changed. Maybe not completely, but he's trying.”

“I know,” the Sheriff says. “I wouldn't have let him walk out of here if I didn't believe that.”

“Then what's this really about?” Derek asks.

“I'm just checking in, Derek,” Sheriff Stilinski says. “We've known each other a very long time, and not once have I seen you look at anyone the way you do Theo.”

Derek ducks his head. “He's important to me.”

“And you're important to him,” the Sheriff says. “Anyone can see that.”

“So, this isn't you trying to talk me out of dating him?” Derek asks him.

“No, it's not,” the Sheriff says. “Just be sure to tell Stiles soon, will you? We both know if he finds out some other way, and that I knew and didn't tell him, we'll both be in for an earful.”

“I think we are either way,” Derek sighs.

“He just wants you to be happy, Derek,” Sheriff Stilinski says. “We all do. And if Theo makes you happy…”

“He does,” Derek cuts in. “I haven't felt this way about someone in a long time. If I ever have.”

“You love him?”

Derek doesn't even have to think about it. He knows. He'd thought the words just last night and had been too afraid to voice them. But now… “I do.”

“Then hold on to him,” Sheriff Stilinski says.

“I plan to,” Derek says. 

“Good.” The Sheriff smiles. “Now get out of here before he starts to think I'm interrogating you and storms back in here to save you.”

Derek says his goodbyes and leaves the office. He expects to find Theo at the front desk, but he's not there. He frowns, and Delores nods her head to the door. “He just went outside. Something had that man tearing out of here like his hair was on fire.”

He walks outside to find Theo pacing in front of the car. He stops when he sees Derek and looks at him, eyes wide and a little frantic. And Derek knows, he heard him. He knows. 

“Were you going to tell me?” Theo asks him as Derek hesitantly steps towards him.

“I planned to,” Derek says. “But I didn't want to scare you off if it was too soon.”

“You wouldn't have,” Theo tells him.

“I know,” Derek says.

“What has you so sure now?” Theo asks.

“Because you're still here,” Derek says. “You didn't run.”

“Not from you,” Theo says. His eyes scan Derek’s face. “Say it. To me. Please.”

Derek meets Theo's eyes. “I love you.”

Theo growls and strides towards him, closing the remaining distance between them, takes Derek's face in his hands, and kisses him. It's nothing like the soft kisses they shared last night. It's hard, a hint of desperation to it that has Derek’s head spinning as he grabs Theo's hips and pulls him closer. 

“I love you,” Theo murmurs against his lips.

Derek smiles and pulls him in for another kiss.