#Obviously Steter

[kordyceps]

OK I mean obviously I'm reading your steter stuff on AO3 but I'd love to know if you have an all time favourite? Either your fave of your own work, or fave of another author's that you rec/reread/still think about a million years later (or both lol)

Oh man, okay, sorry for taking so long to reply to this ask! But it's such a good one and I unfortunately have the memory of a gold fish, so I needed to do Research™ (aka reread all my favs again lmao) so I could answer it properly. 😂

I only have one Steter fic of my own atm, so I guess that's my de facto personal fav for now…

But as for other folks' work, god, there are sooooo many great Steter fics out there!! So these are just a handful of my top favs, and definitely not a comprehensive list!

Five Times Peter and Stiles Troll the Pack by taylorpotato Rating: M | 2.5k | requires an AO3 account to read Stiles and Peter yell at each other in Polish, misleading the pack into think they're fighting, when in reality it's all just like completely fuckin' filthy dirty talk lmao. Short, but very funny, and such a perfect capture of their mischievous dynamic. 10/10, would recommend!

The Devil You Know by Twisted_Mind Rating: E | 11.6k Peter is there for Stiles when no one else is, and uses that to slowly manipulate his way into earning Stiles' explicit trust. And ooooh boy, is it so delicious and spicy. God damn! Cards on the table: this fic definitely won't be for everyone since it wades into some darker waters. But oh my god do I love love LOVE Peter's characterization in it. God, I feel like I could write a whole damn essay about this fic, but then I'd just end up spoiling the whole thing LOL. Just--if you like darker, manipulative Peter and enjoy your sweetness just a wee bit twisted, then 10/10 would recommend!

The Prince and the Pease by luulapants Rating: E | 47k | requires an AO3 account to read Medieval/Royalty AU where Peter is forced to cede his claim to the throne and become a "guest" of King Deucalion's as part of a peace treaty between the two kingdoms. Stiles, who is suspiciously far too mouthy for your average servant, is gifted to Peter as a bedwarmer. This one does such an incredible, masterful job at translating the characters into its setting and time period. The sass, the wit, the wordplay! You can definitely tell the author knows their shit, and my god is it fantastic. The plot itself is also so satisfying -- lots of great ups and downs, and, ugh, just so good! (Be sure to read p2 for the full ending btw!) Needless to say, 10/10, would recommend!

Keeping him (It's all about intent) by sittinginmytincan Rating: M (& E for oneshot sequel) | 121k Stiles winds up slingshotted into his own future, where it turns out he's married to Peter Hale of all people. His only way back is with Lydia's help, but she's gone mysteriously missing somewhere on the east coast while investigating some strange disappearances. Man, this fic….. I feel like the writer for this one must have received a checklist of things I'm into and decided to mark nearly every single one of them lol. Time travel, woke up married, magical theory, an enthralling af plotline -- and it's so thorough. Like, everything is so incredibly well thought out, the characterization is on point, and the development of Stiles and Peter's relationship is just chef kiss. Definitely 10/10, would recommend!

The Striking Complication by aurevell Rating: T | 118k I don't even want to write a summary up for this one because the mystery of it all and peeling back what's happening piece by piece is, imo, the best way to experience it. This story is intense as fuck, near relentlessly oppressive, and impossible to put down. It keeps you constantly at the edge of your seat as you try to figure out what is going on and how Peter and Stiles will survive it, with these heart-wrenchingly sweet breather moments sprinkled throughout. If you enjoy time loop stories, this one is an absolute must read! 10/10, would recommend!

build-a-beau by veterization Rating: E | 41.5k Tired of his dad always worrying about him being single, Stiles decides to pay for a fake boyfriend service so he can finally get his pops off his back about it. It goes about as well as one can expect a fake texting boyfriend you accidentally catch real feelings for can go lmao. This fic is wonderfully witty, with really fantastic banter between the two of them, and it's just so very fun getting to watch the pretend part of their exchanges slip more and more into something genuine. 10/10, would recommend!

Under the Songbird's Wing by mia6363 Raing: E | 87k Stiles is captured and held in captivity alongside Peter, Deucalion, and Satomi Ito. To survive, Stiles runs through lacrosse drills and tells stories, eventually persuading his fellow cellmates out of their shells and establishing a profound, unbreakable bond between them. This one is HEAVY, folks. Like, heavy heavy. But, god, it's also such a beautiful exploration of the characters and the bonds they develop through shared captivity. I don't even know what more to say, really, it's just haunting and lovely and awful and wonderful all at once. In the mood for something that hurts? Then 10/10, would recommend!

#yes ALL of these are 10/10 would recommend!!! 👏😤 #steter #fic recs #I may have gone overboard with this lmao #but I just!!!! love steter and these fics so much and I had to gush about every single one!!!! #and there is definitely no way I could have picked just one #teen wolf #asks #dre606

[beaconfeels]

@like-lazarus kindly tagged me in a “Messy Draft Monday” and even though I’ve been too stressed to be actively working on anything right now, I wanted to share something. So have a little bit of one of the random steter stories floating around in my brain:

Peter finishes loading the last bag into his car and leans against the trunk for a minute. Overall, he feels satisfied. His revenge is complete, plus he’s an alpha, which is a nice little perk.

It’s a little galling to have to leave the Hale territory instead of ruling it, but if he stays here his nephew and that merry little band of budding psychopaths will kill him eventually. He’s lucky, but he’s not that lucky.

The sound of rapidly approaching footsteps catches his ear first, then a quick heartbeat. He knows that heartbeat. He memorized that heartbeat one night that seems so long ago, but really wasn’t that long ago at all.

He turns around.

“Stiles,” he says, low, dangerous. Because he likes Stiles, but Stiles is most likely to come up with a murder plot that will actually work, so he’s not to be trifled with.

The boy pulls up short, staying well back from Peter. He’s breathing hard, and those pretty pink lips are parted, his cheeks flushed. He really is very lovely, Peter thinks.

Stiles has a large duffle bag weighing down one shoulder, his grip on it white-knuckled. “Take me with you,” he says.

Peter blinks. He thought he was beyond being surprised.

“You want me, right?” Stiles goes on. “You wanted to turn me. I can’t let you bite me, but I can be pack. Just take me with you. Let me stay with you and I’ll be pack. I’ll cook too, and clean.”

“Can’t let me bite you?” Peter asks. It’s not the only question he has, but it’s the one that sticks out the most in what Stiles has just laid on him.

“I don’t think so. Maybe? But right now it’s a no.” He bites his lip, taps his fingers on his leg. “Yeah. Definitely a no right now. Maybe forever. But humans can be pack, right?”

Peter doesn’t know why he’s even still standing here. Of course he’s not going to take Stiles with him. “You don’t even know where I’m going,” he says instead of what he should be saying, which is obviously no. It’s definitely not happening.

“I don’t fucking care,” Stiles says, and he sounds suddenly weary. “As long as it’s not here, I’m cool.”

Peter tilts his head. Stiles is such a mix of scents it’s always been hard to get a read on him, but Peter has noticed the anguish that radiates off the boy in waves. It’s a layer that runs under everything else— a steady, overwhelming sadness. “And what would your father have to say about that?” He still doesn’t know why he’s even engaging in it, why he’s giving the boy any hope.

Stiles snorts. “I left him a note that he’ll find whenever he finally realizes I’m gone. He won’t come after me.” He looks down and to the side, his hand clenching into a fist.

“Listen,” Stiles says, and he raises those big brown eyes to look right at Peter, “I can’t stay here anymore. Please. Just please, take me with you. I know I can’t promise not to be any trouble, you’d never believe that, but I can be useful. I can be good for you. I can be pack.”

He’s desperate, and that shouldn’t matter. If it were anyone else it wouldn’t matter, but this is Stiles. Stiles is unusual. He’s interesting. Now that he’s had his revenge, Peter is at a bit of a loose end. Not without plans, never without plans, but the future already looks a little boring. Stiles is many things, but boring isn’t one of them.

Plus, Stiles is the Sheriff’s son, and absconding with the son of the sheriff sounds like a delightfully mischievous, if misguided, end to his run in Beacon Hills. “Alright, you can come along.”

#my writing #steter #wips #I’m usually here for good dad Noah #but listen sometimes you need to take your dad issues out on innocent characters #for both catharsis and plot #also the irony of Peter calling Derek’s pack budding psychopaths is not lost on me

[lucky-bishop]

Steter Cutthroat Kitchen AU

Peter is Alton Brown, obviously. Stiles is a contestant with an up-and-coming restaurant. He's eager to win. $25k will change his life. BUT it's obviously not that easy. I'm torn between Stiles winning but spending nearly all his money on sabotages or Stiles trying to conserve as much money as possible and losing bc of it. Or something in between. Either way they fuck nasty on set, probably specifically in the cooler room where the ingredients are stored, once it's all done. Peter definitely wolfs out and freaks Stiles WAY the hell out and that's how the Hale pack adopts Stiles as the two of them become absolute menaces to the pack and society at large trying to outdo each other forever and ever amen.

#steter #teen wolf #steter au #I'm so tired I don't even know if this makes any sense but I had to say it #can you guess what I'm about to watch before bed I'll give you one guess

[infiniteeight8]

Drabble prompt for Steter😇

"Are you purring now?"

(At 169 words, this is once again more of a ficlet than a drabble. I doubt folks will mind. LOL)

Peter’s favorite thing about his recently achieved full shift—not that he would admit to to anyone—is how much more comfortable people are touching him when he’s in wolf shape. Derek will run close enough to him to bump shoulders. The betas jostle him when they’re all milling around. Even Stiles will pet him sometimes, if he’s distracted and Peter lays down next to him.

Stiles is absently stroking him now, and Peter can’t restrain the happy rumble. Stiles’ hand pauses. Peter squints up at him disapprovingly. “Are you purring now?” Stiles asks, but he goes back to petting. Peter rolls his eyes as obviously as he can. “Just because wolves don’t purr doesn’t mean werewolves can’t!” Stiles protests. Peter closes his eyes. “I’m kind of amazed you’re letting me pet you.”

Peter changes back and smirks at Stiles’ surprised yelp. “Stiles, you can pet me any time you like,” he says, and that tone is definitely a purr.

Stiles blushes bright red when he protests, and isn’t that delightful?

#Steter #Drabble #sort of

[wheredidhiseyebrowsgo]

hey there! so I was wondering if you know any fic where the Hales are alive and stiles doesn't know about the supernatural yet or one with alive Hales and stiles & cora friendship

We went with the Cora and Stiles friendship!

@kevaaronday made this list.

Dude, Werewolves by mysecretashes (29,623 | 1/1 | Explicit | Sterek) Stiles gets partnered with Cora for a history project, and they become bros. Also, he kind of falls in love with her older brother, Derek.

Flirt Responsibly by Halevetica (24,572 | 21/21 | Not Rated | Sterek) Life for Stiles Stilinski is pretty good. He lives with his dad and two sisters in the small town of Beacon Hills, but when an old family moves back into town, Stiles can't help but notice how attractive Derek got, only Derek seems to be into his sisters rather than him.

Derek Hale has moved back to Beacon Hills due to his mother's job. He remembers the Stilinski siblings, but he doesn't remember them being so good looking. Derek finds himself drawn to one in particular and can't seem to keep from making a fool of himself whenever they're around. Not that they notice him anyway.

Snowed In by paintedrecs (16,292 | 1/1 | Teen | Sterek) As far as Derek could tell, Cora hadn’t asked if she could bring someone home for the holidays. She’d barely even bothered to give a heads up: she’d texted from the rest stop that was almost exactly halfway between campus and home, by which point it was much too late to tell her to leave this unwelcome intruder—some guy named Stiles—behind.

***

Derek loved Christmas. Family-only Christmases, that is, which Cora had thrown a wrench into this year by bringing home a guy who turned out to be handsome, funny, brilliant, and...of course...completely unavailable.

Or so Derek thought.

Daisies and Dandelions by Divinae (12,873 | 8/8 | Not Rated | Steter) It was suppose to go like this...

Danny has the 'talk' with Alpha Hale and joins the pack while Stiles and Cora take their newest friends out for a nice picnic. 

Then they'd all hang out and enjoy a peaceful rest of the day at Hale Manor to mingle with the pack.

Things don't always go as planned.

Would you care if I came back? By HopeSilverheart (7,583 | 1/1 | Gen | Cora/Lydia) “And finally, Cora and Lydia.”

Cora froze in her seat at the proclamation, her jaw clenching almost painfully as she angled her body towards the right side of the room and caught sight of Lydia Martin frowning at her. She wondered if there was a chance she could convince Mister Yukimura to pair her with Theo instead.

She had known the redhead forever, and she didn’t want to spend any more time with her than was strictly necessary. Was it not enough that they had to see each other every month during Beacon Hills’ secret supernatural meetings?

Or: Cora & Lydia are forced to work together on a project together. The two girls hate each other, until they don't.

Oh, That Summer Lovin’ by SassyStarboard (4,191 | 1/1 | Teen | Sterek & Cora/Lydia) Lydia, the head cheerleader to Derek's basketball captain, was every high school boy’s dream. They were both charming and popular, strong-willed and sharp-edged. On paper, they were the perfect match. The perfect crime.

***

How do two teenagers get around their parents' oppressive dating rules? By fake-dating each other's partners, obviously.

trace and memorize by StarAmongStones (2,588 | 1/1 | Teen | Sterek) “If mom asks, I’m working on a project for school," Cora says, already halfway up the stairs.

The boy in front of Derek clears his throat, face splotchy in embarrassment, and says, “We are actually working on a project together. I don’t know why she said it like that.”

“I literally don’t care,” Derek says, turning back to his laptop.

Fake relationship matchmaking by TheyDraggedMeInNowIAintLeaving (2,279 | 1/1 | Gen | Sterek) In which Cora devices a plan to set up her brother and best friend that would never work outside of a fictional piece of work

Steady Me Now (You Are My Anchor) by scarlettletterr (1,551 | 1/1 | Gen | Sterek) Cora had thrusted the VIP pass in his face the second he walked into the cafe and Stiles hadn’t been able to say anything other than "Yes, Cora, I’ll be there."

AU where Stiles and Cora have been friends since they were in diapers, the Hales are alive and Laura, Derek, Erica, Boyd and Isaac are in a rock band, the Hale fire never happened (but Jackson was still a kanima), and Stiles is in love with the grumpy and gorgeous sourwolf of a bassist of "Alphas".

AND

@midnightwinterhawk suggested these ones!

Snowed In by paintedrecs

(1/1 I 16,292 I Teen I Sterek)

As far as Derek could tell, Cora hadn’t asked if she could bring someone home for the holidays. She’d barely even bothered to give a heads up: she’d texted from the rest stop that was almost exactly halfway between campus and home, by which point it was much too late to tell her to leave this unwelcome intruder—some guy named Stiles—behind.

***

Derek loved Christmas. Family-only Christmases, that is, which Cora had thrown a wrench into this year by bringing home a guy who turned out to be handsome, funny, brilliant, and...of course...completely unavailable.

Or so Derek thought.

Backstage is Full of Parasites by Falln_Grce

(14/14 I 61,349 I Explicit I Sterek)

A little tweak to the Teen Wolf universe where Stiles learned to take care of himself from a young age. And despite going through trauma as a child, he's 17 now and has adjusted to the new normal as well as he can. With a soulmate-AU just to keep things interesting.

What if the Sheriff didn't turn to alcohol when his wife died... What if he focused all of his attention on helping a seven year old, recently removed from an abusive home, Isaac get settled into the Stilinski household... Where would Stiles fit into that world?

Dirty Little Secret by isthatbloodonhisshirt (wasterella)

(2/2 I 91,001 I Explicit I Sterek)

“Holy shit, this is a date!” he blurted out, turning back to Derek wide-eyed. “This is a date! You intended for this to be a date, this was supposed to be a date!” He figured if he said it enough times, maybe he would believe it, but so far, no dice.

Derek was scowling again—seriously, did he want wrinkles?—but he just reached into one of the bags and pulled out a burger, checking what was written on the foil in sharpie before handing it over to Stiles.

“Of course it’s a date, what did you think this was?”

#teen wolf #sterek #steter #stiles stilinski #derek hale #cora hale #lydia/cora #high school au #anon

[moistvonlipwig]

Number 14, for the choose violence game?

:o hello!!! i assume you mean for teen wolf fandom?

14. that one thing you see in fics all the time

hmm so i don't read too much teen wolf fic and when i do i tend to stick to Trusted Sources, but i do sometimes browse the teen wolf tag on ao3 out of a morbid curiosity, and there are some. interesting things that crop up frequently in the tags. to put it mildly. there's obviously lots of tropes whose implications have been discussed ad nauseam at this point by the scott mccall defense squad like "scott is a bad friend", "deaton is shady", "stiles joins the hale pack", etc., so i'd rather talk about one i haven't seen so much discussion of which is the frequency of the "female stiles stilinski" tag. i find this one curious since to my knowledge this is not super common in most other big m/m fandoms? feel free to correct me if i'm wrong, i don't tend to move in m/m fandom circles much but that's the impression i've gotten. so it's odd to me that it's so popular in teen wolf (usually sterek altho maybe sometimes steter?) fic. what about stiles makes people want to write him as a girl? i know he gets 'feminized' a fair bit among certain sterek circles which is. its own can of rather homophobic worms. but that's not quite the same thing as just writing him as a girl entirely. idk. i don't even have a witty thing to say about it because it's honestly so weird to me. america explain!!!

#genuinely tho. if anyone has any ideas what's up with the popularity of this tag. kindly do help a duck out and explain lol #the bite is a gift #spikeface #sarcasm is my only defense

[justonemorechapternicercy]

Can you love someone you've never met? Someone you never talked to in real life? Percy wondered as he logged in to his profile and was greeted with the bright red sign of a new message.

His heartbeat quickened, he knew who it was from. Angelofdeath, the person who can build him up with a few words, and tear him down by not reacting immediately to something he sent.

Percy sighed. He knew he wasn't in the best headspace, he wasn't sure of his own feelings, own thoughts. He just knew he wanted to be close to his friend, he wanted to see him, compliment him, love him, kiss him and hold him close. He hated when Nico didn't talk to him for days, he hated the jealous churning of his stomach when he saw Nico interacting with others.

Shaking his head in an attempt to get his mind out of the downward spiral, and clicked on the message.

Angelofdeath

lol

no, I don't think you want to go there

because it's clear I would win

italian cuisine is there *shows the top of the mount everest* and american is somewhere there *shows the mariana trench*

anyways, i hve to go

sleep well

love you ♥️

Percy couldn't stop smiling, but at the same time, his heart felt heavy and painful.

"Love you too," he whispered into the silence of his room.

Seastar

pff… you clrly never tsted the NY style pizza

that's just 👌

beats your tiny no carb no grease thing

good luck for your exam!!!

ilytoo ♥️

He noticed that he got an ask too, from a familiar anon.

anonymous asked you:

I’d be happy to keep you warm ;)

-🖤

It was probably a reaction to his previous post where he complained about the weather. He was coming home from school, and even in the warmest, fluffiest coat he owned he was freezing, and he just had to make it into his followers' problem too.

He didn't really expect this, but he should have. As always, he briefly entertained himself that maybe his favorite flirty anon was Nico, but he shook it off. Nico probably would have commented. It was probably one of his followers teasing him or maybe they were too shy to flirt off anon.

He answered back with an

"Anytime, babe, I'm here, waiting for you ;)💙",

and closed the tab. It wasn't like the one person he wanted to talk to was available. Either he was in the middle of his exam, or celebrating his success with his classmates.

Thinking back the first time he interacted with the Italian, it was funny that they reached the point where they felt so comfortable with each other that there was no day - except for those days one of them was too depressed to log in - they didn't talk.

He still remembered that ask from a righteous Nico after he posted "Steter>>>>>Sterek".

Angelofdeath asked you:

sTetEr iS bEtTeR tHaN sTeEk HOE DARE YOU?! (yes, it's hoe, because you are a HOE!) I followed you because your TW edits are 👌 but your taste… 😬

Percy remembered the indignation he felt as he wrote a 3k+ reply to why Steter was better (because of Peter's V-neck, obviously, but also, because of Peter and Stiles are both fucked up similarly).

He got back a similarly long essay on why Sterek was better, and that was the start of their little competition.

As they tried to one up each other with their respective ship, they started to talk. And love the other ship too. And soon, instead of being the worst enemies, they became the biggest supporters of each other.

Nico became a very important part of Percy's life. Bad or good, Nico was always there for him, being the loveable sarcastic asshole he became so dependent on. Their interaction, while still involved fandom talk, turned into just talking, sharing stories and feelings. Nico told him about growing up with his mother and sister who died way too early. Percy talked about Gabe, the stepfather he had when he was young, how he left both physical and emotional scars on him. They bonded over having absent fathers and shitty school lives. Percy was the first person Nico came out and Percy still felt touched and soft at the knowledge he made Nico feel safe and comfortable enough to do so.

He opened the hellsite again, not able to resist the temptation. There were two notifications - a message and an ask.

He opened the ask first, knowing he would spend the rest of his night talking with Nico.

Anonymous asked you:

I wish you'd mean that…

-🖤

Percy stared at it, uncomprehending. The anon was always flirty, teasing… lighthearted. He liked the black heart anon, they were lovely, but he never thought…

He thought he was the only one having an unrequited online crush. He never thought somebody had an unrequited online crush on him.

He didn't reply. He couldn't. He kept it in his inbox, hoping that in time, he would know what to do with it. For now, he clicked on his messages, finding a string of swear words, keymashes and threats in Italian still coming from Nico because he dared to mention the "abomination that has no right to call itself pizza".

Percy laughed, already knowing he would get this reaction. He knew Nico. And that was why he was afraid of doing anything. He knew Nico, and he wanted to keep knowing him, being friends with him. He didn't want to lose him.

But maybe one day… maybe one day he'll have the courage to say something to him- but until that, he was content to be his friend. Because being in love with Nico wasn't overruling his love; the romantic feelings just complemented the platonic ones. And maybe he would get a clue on what to do with his flirty anon. Because as much as he loved Nico… he kinda liked the anon too.

#percy jackson #nico di angelo #nicercy #percico #pjo #pjo ficlet #tumblr au

[adrianfridge]

20 questions for fic writers!

Got tagged by both @clotpolesonly and @thotpuppy

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

Currently 42 buuuut many of them are 100 word drabbles that I spared people from lumping everything into one work with chapters. Also I have a bunch of Tumblr archived meta posts

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

179,671

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Teen Wolf

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Happy Endings are for Winners (17,770 words, Explicit, Stackson)

Dirty Secrets (10,349 words, Explicit, Jacksterek)

When We Were Monsters (56,437 words, Explicit, Stackson)

Fill Me With Your Memory (26 words, Stackson, archive of photomanips)

When the Dumb Collide (1,582 words, Stackson)

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I do if there’s something to respond to. I feel weird shouting Thank You to every single one of them

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Woof. I tend to write Angst with a Happy Ending, so there isn’t anything too bittersweet. I guess the closest I have is Tremors In My Bones (5,712 words, Explicit, Steo) that’s more behind the scenes of season 5A

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

The most sappiest ending is obviously in my fic titled Happy Endings are for Winners

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Thankfully not!

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I live for the smut. And I can get very kinky about it. Like in any of my fics featuring Theo, who needs to get roughly railed

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

No crossovers for me

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

No thank god

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Sadly no

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

I tried! The WIP fell through 

14. What’s your all time favourite ship?

Guess 🤭

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I do have a BadWrong Steter in my WIPs but I doubt I’ll finish it 🥲

16. What are your writing strengths?

I feel like I’m good at being visceral? Like if I want my reader to feel a certain way, I usually accomplish it

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Being SLOW AS FUCK 😤

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I’ve done something like that in my original fiction, but ehhh I’ve found the outcome is awkward 

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Teen Wolf

20. Favourite fic you’ve written?

Hard to answer because Dirty Secrets was like a hyperfixation steamroller of feels, When We Were Monsters was like my magnum opus of Stackson

TAGGING: you, yes you, unless you were tagged already lmao

#personal #tag meme

[gingersnapwolves]

so I got tagged by @cinematicnomad to pick my top 5 fics, and I thought, this is an outrage! I’ve got 99 fics on AO3 alone! though granted I wouldn’t pick anything not on AO3 since my old stuff is ... not great ... but anyway how I could pick 5? So since I missed fanfic writer’s appreciation day yesterday I decided to appreciate myself, bend the rule, and change the prompt to .... give your favorite fics awards! 

Best Epic:

The Sum of its Parts (1.2 million | T | Teen Wolf | Sterek, Scallison)

What started as a simple "fork in the road" AU became a series and ate my life.  

This obviously had to be on the list somewhere but it’s barely a fanfic anymore, it strayed so far from the source material! I adore every word. Well, most of the words. 

Best Smut:

Get Off (Me) (77K | E | Teen Wolf | Steter)

Stiles hates being left behind with Peter while the pack is fighting monsters, because he never knows exactly what Peter will get up to.

Boy did I have fun with this one. Dubcon smut turns to consensual-but-not-safe-or-sane smut turns to ‘wait did we catch feelings wtf’ smut.

Funniest:

The Lost Cause (18K | T | The Untamed | NHS + JGY)

AU in which Nie Huaisang and Jin Guangyao work together to take down Jin Guangshan from the beginning.

Or: the story in which Nie Huaisang just wants to paint fans and feed birds and he doesn't understand why this is so much to ask.

I may live to be a hundred and never write anything funnier than “you have a praise kink!”

Best Roast of the Source Material:

Adult Wolf (232K | T | Teen Wolf | Sheriff/Peter, Sterek)

As if Sheriff Stilinski doesn't have enough to deal with, now he's been attacked by some enormous dog in the forest, and that's normal compared to what happens next...

Re-telling of seasons 1-3B with Sheriff Stilinski being bitten instead of Scott.

230K words of me writing a strongly worded letter to the writers of Teen Wolf on all the things they could’ve done better. I enjoyed it.

Best Tearjerker:

picking up the pieces (111K | M | The Untamed | LWJ + JYL, WWX/LWJ)

The AU where Jiang Cheng dies at Nightless City instead of Jiang Yanli and she takes her son to raise at Lotus Pier. She and Lan Wangji bond over losing Wei Wuxian and raising their children, and over time, they start to have suspicions about what happened at Qiongqi Way....

This is probably the most poignant thing I have ever written. The whole thing is woven with grief and love. The scenes between Lan Wangji and A-Yuan still make me a little teary-eyed when I think of them.

Best Romance:

An Atypical Courtship (48K | M | The Untamed | LXC/JGY, WWX, LWJ)

Meng Shi dies with her debt to the brothel unpaid, and the madam decides Meng Yao needs to work it off for her. Eight years later, Lan Xichen meets him at Koi Tower.

I generally don’t write a lot of pure “romance”, so I’m really proud of how this one came out. The whole fic is just so soft and loving.

Best Post-Canon:

you’ll never walk alone (21K | T | Not Me | Black + White, Sean/White)

If Black got his way, he would never go back to Gumpa’s garage.

Spoiler alert: Black does not get his way.

Sometimes I finish watching a series and so desperately crave more that I just write a couple more episodes for them, free of charge. This one is probably my favorite of that variety. I just want Black to be happy, damn it!

Best Overall:

What Goes Around (71K | M | Teen Wolf | Sterek, but the relationship at the heart of the story is the father-son relationship between Peter and Stiles)

“Well,” Stiles says, “if they’re going to hunt werewolves, I’m going to hunt them.”

It’s a ridiculous statement from a ten-year-old, but he’s obviously one hundred percent sincere. For the first time since the fire, Peter feels life stir inside him, feels purpose. It’s kismet, clearly. He’ll never meet the child he would have had with Olivia. Instead he’s met this boy, this brilliant, determined, cynical child with a world of potential.

Peter kneels down in front of him so they’re at eye level. “How do you feel about doing that together?”

This might be the best fic I’ve ever written. It’s probably better than most of my original work. I love everything about it, especially the way I used outside sources like news articles and forum posts to show the passage of time. It’s just really good and I’m very proud of it.

Who else wants to give themselves some awards? I don’t really like tagging people but anyone else is welcome to steal the format and shower love upon themselves!

#fic stuff

[dramaticvhs]

my top 10 favorite steter fics

okay so steter is like, my favorite teen wolf ship, so i totally have more than 10. sorry, not sorry. i have 130 bookmarked steter fics 🥲 READ THE TAGS WHEN YOU CLICK!! if you have one that’s not on this list, feel free to leave a comment! i’ll read pretty much anything i can get my hands on

1. As Gunpowder Needs War

author: laisserais

description

AU where Stiles's life follows a very different path, but he still runs into Peter Hale. He's seventeen when he's convicted of murder and sent to an adult prison. Guess who his new roommate is.

my opinion: I’ve recced this fic so many times to so many people. prison au’s have me in a chokehold, and i especially love this one. i’ve read it so many times, and if you’re into prison au’s, i can guarantee it doesn’t get much better than this.

2. Breathing You In

author: lavenderlotion

description

“Good morning, kiddo,” his dad said, and the words hurt.

All Stiles wanted to do was step forward and let his dad hug him, allow his father to give him comfort. His father's hugs had always been all-encompassing, the way he would fold himself around Stiles and hold him as tightly as he could.

Stiles stepped around him, careful not to let foreign skin touch anything that was special to him.

Anything he loved.

my opinion: this fic means the world to me. I'm not sure if it's on any of my other rec lists, but it absolutely should be. I don't even have words to describe it. it's one of those I just HAVE to reread every time I come across it

3. Do You Like to Hurt? (Then Hurt Me) (locked)

author: taylorpotato

description

Stiles shows up at Peter's apartment, drunk and horny. Peter almost does the right thing—before it all deteriorates into a voyeuristic power game and Stiles has a mind-shattering orgasm. Things snowball from there. Takes place after Season Three (with consequent canon divergence).

my opinion: omg any post nogitsune steter is my SHIT. there's nothing better. and this one scratches that itch SO well.

4. All We Have Left

author: Arvak

description

It's the anniversary of Laura's death and Peter's no where to be seen. Stiles tells Derek, but Sourwolf doesn't quite share his concerns. Finally, he gets a call late at night. Turns out, Peter's not missing - he's passed out over a toilet in a club, doped up on an unidentified drug, completely incapacitated and vulnerable. And, possibly strangest of all, Stiles is Peter's emergency contact...

The things Peter tells him while he's drugged up and sad make his heart ache. And, eventually, change his entire life.

---

"What happened?" Stiles asked quietly, devastation wracking his body. Looking down at Peter right now was like looking into a dirty hole in the ground and seeing this little puppy in there, messy and matted and malnourished and trapped, looking up at you with shame and exhaustion and pleading for you to save him.

A tear slipped down Peter's face and Stiles felt like he just got punched in the stomach. "Help me." That's all he said. Two simple words, and Stiles' entire world crumbled down around him, leaving only one thing left: this stubborn werewolf sitting in a disgusting bathroom in one of the sketchiest clubs in town, asking for his help.

my opinion: Peter in this fic is just everything to me. I love when Stiles is the one that has to take care of Peter just because I like a little human Peter now and then

5. Baby Whisperer

author: twothumbsandnostakeincanon (somanyofthekids)

description

“What. Is that.”

Scott looked up at him, apprehensive.

“Her name’s Lily.”

Stiles stared at the fuzzy head peeking out of the papoose.

“Her. Her name. That is a real live human baby. Oh my God-”

“Actually I don’t know if she’s human?” Scott said with a confused frown. “Becca didn’t say.”

“Who the fuck is Becca?!”

my opinion: OH MY GOD??? obviously we know that anything by twothumbsandnostakeincanon is gonna be good, but i come back to this fic so often. domestic steter with a kid? sign me tf up.

6. Vengeance Looks Good On You, Sweetheart

author: cywscross

description

Just because Scott refuses to see the Argents for what they truly are - prejudiced serial killers sitting proudly on a mountain of innocent corpses - doesn't mean Stiles will. It's about time someone did something about the Argent Empire anyway, and what a coincidence - summer vacation is just around the corner.

--

Or, the one where Gerard Argent kidnapped the wrong fucking person to torture. Stiles has never subscribed to the policy of forgiving and forgetting anyway, not when razing the problem to the ground and salting the earth for good measure has always been a far better solution in the long run.

He doesn't expect to have company.

my opinion: ALPHA STILES ALPHA STILES ALPHA STILES!!!! Alpha Stiles is my FAVORITE trope. by far. can't get enough of it. And this fic does it fantastically. I love morally grey stiles.

7. Written in Red

author: gryvon

description

Peter had given up hope of ever finding his soulmate until the red string on his finger leads him to a four-year-old. He's going to Hell. Or jail. Or both.

my opinion: I just love Peter's relationship with the adults in this fic. it makes me so happy when everyone lives and isn't an asshole. there's so many great things about it - I've read it 29 times according to ao3.

8. Dastardly by Design

author: gryvon

description

Peter thinks Stiles is in love with Derek. Peter is wrong.

my opinion: this fic has 3000 kudos and it needs a million more. everyone say thank you gryvon for the spectacular porn (and feelings ofc)

9. The Pack Makes the Alpha

author: iCheat

description

The Alpha pack are gone but they've left behind an abundance of Alpha's and no solid pack in Beacon Hills. Peter is the first Beta to align himself. Of course he chose the fifth option.

my opinion: again, Alpha Stiles!!! there's nothing better. I've always been a sucker for Stiles taking care of his Pack. if there was 100k more of this I'd read it

10. (baby) maybe that matters more

author: lavenderlotion

description

“Well, well, well,” drawls a familiar voice that Stiles hadn’t even considered he might ever hear again. “The token pack human, left all alone?”

my opinion: THIS ONE ISNT COMPLETED! BEWARE! I don't often read uncompleted fanfiction but lord this one just sucks you in. "taking care of stiles after Gerard beats him" is the BEST teenwolf trope. I've come back to it so many times because it's just that good.

and that's all for today folks! I hope you enjoy these as much as I did! I'll be doing more fic recs in the future so follow for more <3

#teen wolf #steter #stiles stilinski #peter hale #steter fic rec #teen wolf fic

[kordyceps]

WIP Tag Game!

Oh!!! I was tagged for one of these lil tumblr tag games by @lavender-lotion ! This is so exciting for me, thank you! 😭

Everything I'm working on is Steter because the brainrot is un-fucking-real fkjd;asfd

Mutiny of the Hardest Order -- mostly done and in the process of posting, obviously, but chapters 10, 11, 12, and 18 need a bunch of rewriting so I'm smackin' it on this list anyway

Post-s2, post-resurrection soulmate/soulmarks AU

Temporary amnesia road trip, wherein Stiles gets spell whammied and Peter is opportunistic af lol (this is the plot bunny that started it all for me btw)

Fantasy AU oneshot where Peter is the vile beast that resides alone over a ruined lake town and Stiles the down-on-his-luck traveler who makes the mistake of encroaching onto Peter's domain

And then there are the Ideas™ that I've written down lots of notes and/or outlines for, but which I have no idea if or when I'll actually tackle them for realsies:

humorous uhhhhh wolf form/knotting pack discussion oneshot thing LMAO /sweats

mage!Stiles and familiar!Peter, wherein Peter's true form is a beastly shadow wolf but he's been sealed in the shape of an unassuming cat-wolf-thing and forced into servitude. Only Stiles can release him, but if ever he does so then Peter is just as likely to turn his fangs on him as he is on Stiles' enemies.

role reversal AU where Stiles is the hyperactive werewolf and Peter the very disgruntled human trying to figure out What The Fuck.

I'm still pretty new around the tumblr scene so don't know of a lot of people to tag yet jfkl;sa But I guess low pressure tags for @marsafter-dark @aurevell @midmorning-bomb (and anyone else who wants to do this!) 💗

#plus there's like a dozen other random loose ideas I've jotted down floating around too lmao #like the time travel fix-it where peter's the one sent back in time #or the one where peter keeps getting glimpses/visions/sneak peeks at a possible future where him and stiles are together+ #+and *wants* it so desperately to come true #or the one where stiles and peter become anonymous pen pals of sorts via a magic journal but peter knows it's stiles the entire time #or getting married steter #I'll never be able to write all of these jkf;dasd #tag game #kor writes

[lucky-bishop]

Your Stargent propaganda is excellent!

As a true believer that Victoria was an arranged marriage for Chris, I love thinking about Chris just being completely obsessed with Stiles as someone he sincerely and authentically cares for. Just a total sap, calling him baby all the time, absolutely head over heels for Stiles. 😍 (And obviously vice versa!)

[I feel the same way about Steter so maybe I just like DILFs being obsessed with Stiles… 🤔]

Thanks so much!!

I do like the idea of Victoria/Chris being an arranged marriage (though I think of it as fanon, I think in canon we see that he truly loves and cares for her). I enjoy writing Chris that way too - just truly getting to enjoy fully and openly loving someone (especially Stiles!).

Stiles is alpha bait is a popular tag and all, but he's definitely also DILF bait 😂 and I, for one, am grateful for that!!!

#ask #anon #stargent #teen wolf

[meggie-stardust]

Hello, this is your Steter Secret Santa! Obviously I haven’t started yet but I have a few ideas already that means I need to know how you feel about Scott? And I guess the other main pack members too just in case (Derek, Erica, Isaac, Boyd, Allison, Lydia, Kira, Malia, Liam). Also the parents (Sheriff, Chris, Melissa, Deaton). Just whether you love them, hate them, or you’re okay with making them pack but just as okay with throwing them under the bus. Thank you!

Hi Secret Santa! I'm so exited to see what your ideas come to!! I am ambivalent about Scott. I don't mind him in fic, but I generally don't read fic where he is the central character. But I have read good Scott and bad Scott and everything in between. I love the rest of the supporting characters but have particular fondess for the og pack (Isaac, Erica, and Boyd) and Kira. I'm the least invested in Liam out of the people on this list. The parents are great, not a huge fan of Canon Deaton, but I'm always interested to see how people use him in fandom.

So TLDR; there's no one from this list I hate, and you can do with them as you will! Hope that helps!

#steter secret santa #anon #meg answers things

[wheredidhiseyebrowsgo]

Hey do you know any fics where Stiles is dating Peter or Derek secretly, and Peter/Derek is actually Scott's dad/bro or maybe the Sheriff's friend/colleague? So they have to date secretly? Preferably somewhere in the story they are found out though

AND

Anonymous asked:

Hi, I wanna know if you or someone have recs on Sterek secret relationship or some Sterek with Scientist/CSI Stiles?

Thank you for all the work you do ❤️

AND

blissfullycamren02 asked:

Do you know any steter secret relationship fics or stetopher secret relationship fics

For sure!

When Nothing Else Works by hannah_baker 

(1/1 I 5,915 I Teen I Sterek)

Sheriff Stilinski is slowly and begrudgingly accepting the fact that werewolves exist, regular bad things still do happen sometimes, and his son may or may not be dating Derek Hale behind his back.

Or, the one where having Derek Hale in his bed is the only way Stiles can get to sleep. Much to his father's annoyance.

Sugarcoated by Shey 

(6/6 I 36,806 I Explicit I Steter)

Stiles doesn't want to admit it, but his dad is right—he's trying to pack way too many minimum-wage hours into the five-week break before the new semester starts. But what else is a screwed over college student with a budget tighter than his worn-out skinny jeans supposed to do?

At least he's found some nice, distracting eye-candy to keep his mind off of his problems.

All I Need Is You (And Cookies) by SincerelyLittle

(13/13 I 18,196 I General I Steter)

“Daddy Stiles!” those are the words that ring out the Hale’s backyard, everything seems to stand still for a moment while Stiles opens his eyes to the sight of long brown hair, beautiful brown eyes and a freckled face. He doesn’t blame anyone for believing the kid when she looks so convincingly like a daughter of his own would.

Since said child is so cute, he can forgive her for potentially starting world war 3 - or at least he thought he could until the next words were "Daddy Peter and I brought cookies!" At least he'll have cookies in the middle of battle.

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Escalate the Problem by Julibean19

(1/1 I 4,300 I Mature I Steter)

“I didn’t tell you because I knew what you were going to say,” Stiles hedges, shrugging his shoulders.

“And what am I going to say?” John challenges, raising his eyebrows.

“That he’s too old for me and you hate him.”

Peter pushes the screen door open with one hand, the other balancing a perfectly browned quiche. He’s dressed in a dark blue cashmere sweater and grey slacks. To Stiles, he looks like a dream. To his father, he’s sure to look like his worst nightmare.

“He’s too old for you and I hate him,” John says immediately.

Trick or Treat? by steterismylife

(2/2 I 7,898 I Explicit I Sterer)

Stiles has to do a dare and dress up as Red Riding Hood to Lydia's party but they don't know he's dating the big bad wolf. When they find out is when things get ugly.

Disposition by Tulikettu

(7/7 I 56,104 I Explicit I Sterek)

Stiles has an itch. A kinky, kinda dirty itch he needs to scratch.

So why not go on the Internet and look for a complete stranger to scratch it?

Derek needs a partner for his rut.

What a coincidence.

What We Called Love by jadore_hale

(8/8 I 105,140 I Explicit I Sterek)

He’d guessed that if Derek wasn’t paying him for the sex, then he was obviously paying him for the conversation. So Stiles made it a point to talk and never stop. Stiles rambled and Derek sometimes listened. Stiles shouted about X-Men and porn in fancy restaurants, and Derek sometimes grunted in response. Every now and then, Derek would even look up from his phone and make eye contact and blink, which Stiles would always take as a positive and real acknowledgment to his existence.   And they never had sex. Not ever. No matter how badly Stiles wanted them to, and he wanted them to, oh so badly.

Stiles Stilinski has been Derek Hale’s sugar baby for the last three years, and just can’t understand why the man pays him so much damn money.

Or the one where Danny is Miley Cyrus, Dylan Sprouse, Justin Beiber, and Kanye West all in one.

Lovely Penmanship by DLanaDHZ

(31/31 I 110,743 I Explicit I Sterek)

To use a scribe to write your letters is a sign of privilege. To be a scribe is... mildly better than a servant. When Stiles, scribe to Lady Kate Argent, is instructed to write a love letter to Lord Derek Hale in her stead, he has no idea just how far from plan things will go. He has no idea that this series of letters will begin a secret affair under the noses of his employers, will lead to him discovering the truth about his past family tragedy, and will make his head spin for both good and bad reasons. All he knows is 'Dear Derek' has some very lovely penmanship.

AND

@anowlnamedpig suggested this one!

The Long Way Home by MyChemicalRachel

(6/6 I 19,846 I Explicit I Sterek)

Stiles didn’t plan to sleep with his best friend’s dad. It just kind of happened. And then it happened again. And again. And again…

#teen wolf #sterek #steter #stiles stilinski #peter hale #derek hale #secret relationship #submission

[dirtbag-linecook-kyloren]

okay idk if you've listened to evermore but i cant stop thinking about tis the damn season and dorothea being about kylux, with hux being dorothea and then i get sad lol

IM SO FASCINATED BY OUR DIFFERING KYLUX EVERMORE THOUGHTS OH MY GOD

I’m a folklore girlie at my CORE even tho I’ve been listening since debut so ofc i also love evermore the VIBES!!

(Hold on im saving this as a draft real quick this is worth getting out of bed to use the computer)

So i absolutely see your point about dorothea, but I think i get lost on that a bit because of the high school themes, and at 28 I have so much trouble reading high school aus, they make me feel gross? even college aus are starting to get that way, so I'm mainly writing grad/law school if i play with academia.

(if ur looking through my ao3 bookmarks this doesn't, weirdly, apply to ships i discovered WHILE in high school. thank god, I read so much steter fan fiction when I'm in a particularly foul mood.)

TIS THE DAMN SEASON THO

now that's a got the germination of a fic in me. It hasn't made the list of "actual aus I'm going to write" but it'll get there once I have even a HINT of plot.

I have a big au in my head about champagne problems as the starting song from Hux's POV, where he turns down the proposal of the proper society candidate and then runs away and meets kylo and it's a whirlwind romance?? I love that shit, I swear??

but RIGHT WHERE YOU LEFT ME IS MY BIGGEST FUCKING HUX SONG THO

like imagine a world were they wERE together and then starkiller happened and everything goes to shit and it's over, but KYLO NEVER SAYS ANYTHING and hux iS STILL AT THE REST-AU-RANT

I have cried to this au that exists ONLY IN MY HEAD

REAL HUMAN TEARS ABOUT IT ANON

(It's also on my playlist for the KYlux big bang but in that au it's entirely in kylo's head, and more a statement on his state of mind than the actual plot. THat fic is ONLY GOOD VIBES it's 100k of self indulgence and honestly a shameful amount of smut)

Willow also works for Hux, I feel like? It's an au, obviously, but I'm sure you've all fuckin noticed I only write modern AUs Im an absolute SLUT for them.

I just feel like "They count me out time and time again," and "show me the places were the others gave you scars" are pARTICULARLY good lines for them?

Gold rush is also perfect for any AU were you have Hux feeling self conscious? It's a song that's entirely about not wanting to fall in love, because you think it's not realistic? Like, it's about dreaming how good a love could be and then denying yourself it?

Tolerate it is great for a break up au from Kylo's perspective, absolutely, especially if you make kylo young enough that their age difference is proportional enough to matter, to change the dynamic of their relationship?

This sentence is just an appreciation of no body no crime i'm not using it for a kylux au its just a fuCKING GOOD SONG. Signed, former olive garden employee

Don't get me started on your losing me btw i wILL have a break down.

anyway yes I have mANY THOUGHTS about evermore this is surely both too much and not what you asked for but I hope it was at least enjoyable!!

[aurevell]

The So-Called Peter Hale

Steter | 1.7k | T AU-gust Prompt 9: Coffee Shop AU

Summary: Stiles has had bad luck with dating apps. This Peter Hale guy might be worse luck than usual.

-

The problem, Stiles decides, is that this so-called “Peter Hale” is clearly catfishing him.

“No ten who can turn to anyone anywhere would reach out to a six first. Even on a bad day. A six point five,” he amends, considering.

“At least a seven,” Erica replies, fiddling with the broken group head on the espresso machine.

It’s a slow afternoon at the cafe, somewhere in the sweet spot between the lunch rush and the after-work crowd, and they’re taking care of some idle busywork in the rare downtime. Or at least Erica is. Stiles has been distractedly cleaning the same spot on the counter for five minutes straight.

“Clearly, someone swiped the photos of some hot European model,” he adds, “and they’re using them on the off-chance they can trick me to a second location and steal my organs.”

Erica turns to snort at him. “What if he’s just a hot dude?”

“No way. This hot?” 

Stiles throws down his cleaning rag to pull his phone out of his pocket. When she leans in to see the profile, she makes a considering hm. 

“Okay, actually…he could be a hot European model. He has that look.”

“Right? The ‘I spend most of my free time on my abs’ look.”

“Tell me he does not have abs pics,” Erica retorts, grinning as she grabs the phone to look. Again, she pauses, and there’s that hm. “Wow, he’s jacked. But it’s way more tasteful than I thought it would be.”

“Yeah, cause whatever toad-looking organ trafficker who’s really behind this knows that’s all it takes, washboard abs. Look at that one, those biceps. Look at that jawline.”

“It’s a pretty strong jawline,” Erica agrees. “His profile says he’s a finance analyst…frequent traveler…and ‘ambitious.’”

“Like, I have reasonable expectations here. I’m good with what I get, which is like, people in my semi-hot category who sometimes reject me. When I get the occasional smokin’ hot dude, it actually turns out to be someone who stole the photos of his hot cousin, which I should have taken as a bad omen before he stole my credit card and tried to max it out. Or it’s the one who turns out to be ‘just checking in’ on his ex, but it’s occasionally with his dick. Which is why I should stop matching with hot dudes.”

“God, I forgot about him. What a piece of shit. I can still kick him in the balls for you, I know where he lives.”

“Thanks, but no thanks,” Stiles sighs. “Knowing him, he’d probably get off on that.”

“Okay. Well, this guy—the new guy, Peter or whatever—what if he’s the real deal? I mean, if he’s actually a human being with that face who took pictures of himself?”

“Again, that’s almost worse! Even if this guy is real, hot people who are like, nines and above are super shitty people who’ve been handed everything always and forever their whole lives. Except you, obviously.”

“Obviously.”

“Which means he’s guaranteed to be weird or an asshole. I’ve been burned too many times not to know this.”

“Maybe. But he like…super-liked you or whatever. To make sure you saw him.”

“Yeah, but it still definitely feels safer to just swipe left. Avoid the drama.”

“Hm,” Erica says again. And then she swipes right.

Stiles stares in blank horror for a full five seconds afterward. “What the fuck!” he hisses, grabbing the phone from her, as if he can take back what she’s done.

“You never know,” she says slyly. “Plus, do it for me. I’m still living vicariously through your dates.”

Stiles throws his hands in the air. “What does that even mean? You and Boyd are a fucking power couple!”

“Doesn’t mean I can’t use you for entertainment purposes. But it’s kinda boring when you’re going on safe dates with fumbling frat boys.” She grins at the outrage on his face. “Try something dangerous.”

“You laugh now, but when I’m murdered in a basement by some creep wearing this dude’s face, you’ll be sorry you used that word.”

“And tell me when the guy sends his first dick pick.”

“No,” he sighs, “I cut the cord after the first creepy thing happens. Like that guy who literally said he wanted to ‘feed me his cream.’ That was his pickup line. What do I even do with that?”

Though she looks appropriately horrified, Erica can’t hold back her cackling laughter.

⬩

When the first message comes a short while later, it’s not creepy at all: Cute smile, sweetheart. I was hoping we’d match. How’s the day treating you?

The words seem…too innocuous. Too sincere. 

Stiles is absolutely not going to take the bait. Even if it’s very tempting bait. 

“No way you’re a normal dude,” he mutters, frowning suspiciously at his phone. After a beat, he slides it back into his pocket.

⬩ 

Two days later, those innocuous words are starting to look much more tempting. But that’s part of the siren song, isn’t it? Stiles tries to tell himself.

“I mean, it’s already been one crappy date this week,” he grumbles to Erica. “Do I want to risk making it two? Should I message the organ thief after all?

“Which one’s he again?” Erica asks distractedly, scowling at her misshapen drawing on the chalkboard. Stiles is pretty sure it’s supposed to be a muffin, but it looks more like a melted circus tent. “And wait, what was the bad date?

“You know. That guy who thought road head was the least I could do, even though we went to a chain restaurant and he wouldn’t let me pay. Or maybe I was complaining to Boyd about that.”

“You’ve literally had worse luck with dating in the past month than anyone I’ve ever met.”

“Tell me about it,” Stiles frowns. “Anyway. What am I saying, I’m not going from crazy to hot and crazy. That’s stepping into an even lower circle of hell.” 

⬩

The organ thief appears in the coffee shop one afternoon, and if Stiles wasn’t expecting it, it’s only because he never thought the dude even existed on this side of the Atlantic.

He shows up right after the lunch rush, standing at the order counter, and Stiles catches him staring as he comes out of the back with another tray of muffins. 

Stiles stumbles, and for a panicked second he thinks oh my god I was actually right and he’s some stalker hunting for another victim. He mentally combs through his profile pictures, trying to figure out how the guy could have possibly tracked him down at his workplace.

Except that the guy looks almost as surprised as Stiles is that he’s standing in line here, as if some cosmic being plucked him from afar to deposit him here against his will.

“Peter,” Erica calls, sliding a coffee onto the counter. She clearly doesn’t recognize him, and it takes her a second to pick up on the weird vibes filling the room.

“Hello,” the guy says, looking torn between confusion and amusement. His lips curl upward, just like they do in that one profile photo of him by the ocean, which Stiles definitely hasn’t scrutinized multiple times. “You’re the one from the—”

“Holy shit,” Stiles blurts stupidly, zeroing in on the lack of accent. “You’re not even European.” 

The so-called Peter Hale looks patently confused, and even borderline annoyed. “No,” he says, drawing out the words as if speaking to a small child, “why would I be?”

“Uh…no reason.” Out of the corner of his eye, he watches Erica slowly retreat toward the back door, though she hovers at the threshold instead of actually using it. “Are you also not…some swimsuit model who posts half-naked photos publicly online where anyone could download and use them for identity theft?”

“I’m a financial analyst,” the man says flatly. “It’s in my profile. You are Stiles, right? Stiles Stilinski?”

“How did you know where I work?” Stiles asks desperately.

“I don’t. I live four blocks from here. And Birch Street Cafe is closed for renovations.”

“What the fuck,” Stiles mutters. A thought occurs to him. “Oh my god. Wait. Am I in the wrong here?”

“You never replied to my message,” the man says. He reaches out to grab the coffee cup but doesn’t pick it up, lingering at the counter. His eyebrows rise, as if Stiles has done something funny by having a minor mental crisis. His eyes are bright blue. And that jaw. And those biceps.

“That’s because—you were clearly not a real person,” Stiles says weakly.

Peter blinks, and then he looks down at himself and back up at Stiles.

Stiles is pretty sure this is going to be funny in the near future, but a part of him is absolutely mortified. Almost enough to throw down his apron and flee the scene forever, without even coming back for his last paycheck.

“I mean, you are a real person, obviously,” he adds, jumping at the chance to explain, “but I figured some troll was obviously using the photos of a hot dude to get attention, because there was no way you were just a normal guy walking around a nowhere place like Beacon Hills.”

“I can assure you, I’m just a normal guy walking around a nowhere place like Beacon Hills,” the guy deadpans.

“Uh-huh,” Stiles says weakly, and okay, maybe there’s a bit of humor in all this. Maybe. “I’m not convinced.” And there’s always a catch.

“Then what can I do to convince you?” Peter smirks, leaning onto the counter. It occurs to Stiles that this man is actually fucking flirting after this trainwreck.

“He’s on break,” Erica pipes up. Both of them turn to her. She’s looking a little too smug about this for Stiles’s liking. “He’s taking his fifteen. Starting now.”

Stiles huffs out an incredulous laugh. “I was—

“Yep, starting now,” Erica interrupts, shooing him away. “And I think you mean to say, ‘Thanks, Erica,’” she adds in a whisper.

Stiles snaps his mouth shut and looks at the guy, at Peter, who just offers him a shrug, his expression looking satisfied in a distinctly catlike way. 

Slowly, he takes off his apron, finding himself returning the smile. “Okay. Then…I guess you have fifteen minutes to convince me that you’re normal.”

“Oh, I never said I was normal,” Peter retorts as Stiles slips around the counter. “But I think you’ll enjoy it anyway.”

Read on AO3

#steter #steter fic #au-gust 2022 #meet-cute #coffee shop au #what even is this #which is a tag im gonna be using a lot in this challenge i think #this is genuinely just Silly #and clearly written by someone who's never used a dating app in her life #but it was really fun to write lol #mine #long post #tumblr fic