AU where they already knew each other prior to sfawtde, because they're exes.
Some Stuff About This AU:
- They ended up breaking up because they were both going through a lot of personal issues at the time. I imagine the Avery was struggling a lot with low self-worth and depression. Meanwhile, Derek was struggling with gifted kid burnout and was having a hard time finding a sense of purpose after dropping out of college.
They both loved each other a lot, but they tried to carry their struggles alone, which led to them self-destructing. Their self-destructive tendencies eventually led to a lot of conflict in their relationship, and they ended up breaking up.
- Their breakup had been a long time coming. They'd been arguing a lot. But, it all came to a head after a particularly bad argument that resulted in Avery storming off to his own dorm afterwards. Derek ran after Avery to comfort him and apologize, but when he got to Avery's dorm, he saw that Avery had basically had a breakdown and was sobbing profusely. I think Derek decided in that moment that he didn't want to be someone who makes Avery cry. So, he broke up with him right then and there. (Yeah, it was a very messy breakup.)
- When Avery watched Wifies video, he immediately recognized that it was Derek filming the video. He spent the first half of dawtde, half-convinced that this was a weird prank that Derek was playing on him. (Which he found very strange, because that would be so out of character). And, he was honestly pretty annoyed.
But, as more weird stuff happens, he comes to terms with the fact that all of this stuff is real and that Derek is really in danger. And, he immediately switches from annoyance to worry. Despite all the pain that came from the relationship and its subsequent ending, Avery still loves Derek. And that love outweighs all the fear and anger, and it pushes him to action.
- They both fall in love with each other again over the course of dawtde. Avery falls for Derek's caring nature---the warning in the book, the signs---it all reminds him of why he fell for Derek originally. Derek falls for Avery's persistence and heart. He falls for a man that would be willing to spend 15 hours on New Years Eve trying to save his ex-boyfriend.
- While Avery falls for Derek twice (The first time, in their initial relationship. And the second, during dawtde), Derek falls for Avery thrice---in their initial relationship, when he got infinite knowledge, and during dawtde.
- Derek got a sense of closure on his relationship with Avery after he got infinite knowledge. He was always thinking back on his relationship with Avery---what he could have done better, wondering why their relationship failed, wondering why Avery didn't share his burdens with him---but when he got infinite knowledge, he finally understood. He understood both his own faults and Avery's. He understood why their relationship didn't work out. But, most importantly, he finally understood Avery---fully and truly understood him.
- They first met each other at their college library. Avery had tripped and Derek had caught him. (You're not a very hard guy to catch you know, Avery.) They both thought the other was super cute and Avery very awkwardly asked Derek out for coffee. The rest was history.
- During the library scene, like in canon, they're initially super happy to see each other. But, after the "It's you" "Me" scene, Avery starts acting more distant from Derek. Avery's still hurt from the way their relationship ended and he's hesitant to trust Derek again. And the joy of seeing him after so long outweighed all that fear for a brief moment. But then that brief joy ended, and all that was left behind was the hesitancy and fear. Most of Avery's interactions with Derek after this point have an air of hesitancy to them.
- When Derek told Avery to go to the tree, Avery was actually pretty hesitant to believe Derek. He felt like Derek was hiding something from him, but he decided to put his trust in Derek---hoping they could work through their problems together for once. (He would grow to regret that choice)
- I think Avery was really angry when he realized Derek had tricked him. He was angry at Derek for lying, and at himself for believing in Derek. But more than anything, he was so so scared for Derek---because I think he knew deep down that Derek was going to do something dangerous. I think he knew deep down that Derek was probably pushing him away again.
- The platform scene would mirror the end of their relationship. Derek both metaphorically and literally pushes Avery away again. He is trying to do the "right thing"; he's trying to keep Avery safe. But, his actions still end up hurting Avery again.
- I think Derek tells Avery that he love him in his goodbye letter. And he told Avery that he knows Avery loved him back. Derek knows that Avery regrets not having told Derek that he loved him before he died. And he doesn't want Avery to feel bad about it. Afterall, the letter's main purpose is for Avery---to assure him and comfort him.
Also, in all honesty, Derek just didn't want it to go unsaid. He was tired of trying to hold things back. He didn't want to die hiding things from Avery again. He wanted to be open and honest with Avery in his last moments.
