Written for the FLASH EVENT: SOLAR ECLIPSE at @sterekwritingroom - and I do mean flash - written quickly, unbeta’d and probably more cheese than you need on a pizza…
Thank you @artemis69 for the prompt! xo
On the sandy shore of a lake, Derek and Stiles set down their towels, a cooler, and lastly themselves. There’s no one else there, seeing as it’s private property, but also because everyone’s left the area to drive north to get a better view of the solar eclipse. What Stiles wants to see, however, has nothing to do with the sun, but what’s supposed to appear in the lake during the eclipse.
“I still think you’re asking for trouble,” Derek says, huffing a bit as he peels off his shirt and gets comfortable on his towel. “Listening to advice from old, musty books seems like a great way to die horribly.”
“When did you turn into such a pessimist?” Stiles keeps his t-shirt on, not wanting to add to the freckles he already has on his back and chest. “And when has a book ever been wrong?”
Derek’s response is to raise a single eyebrow. “Do you want the comprehensive list, or just a recap of the highlights?” Poking a finger into Stiles’ abdomen, he says, “There’s a reason no one else wanted to come. They know how this is going to end.”
It’s Stiles’ turn to make a less-than-impressed face, and he goes with an expression of clear disdain. “It’s going to end fabulously, after we’ve spent an afternoon frolicking with a mythical water creature that only appears during a summer solar eclipse.”
“If Cthulhu pops out of that lake, I swear to God, Stiles, I will end you,” Derek says. “You won’t have to worry about anything, ever again.”
“I’m not sure whether to be terrified or comforted,” Stiles answers honestly. “Come on,” he says, standing up and finally shedding his shirt. “I’m already hot, let’s go swim.”
He doesn’t catch the way Derek eyes him appreciatively as he reaches down to set his phone on his towel, but it’s probably for the best. Mythical creatures are still easier for Stiles to believe in at this point than the thought of Derek Hale being even remotely attracted to him.
It’s a good thing Derek’s a patient man. Mostly.
Following Stiles into the cool water, Derek can’t help but let out a contented sigh. The sun’s bright, the weather’s beautiful, and he’s reminded he has super-human strength and he chuckles.
“What’re you laughing about?” Stiles says, turning and looking at Derek, suspicion clear in his eyes.
Derek takes a step closer to Stiles. “Why don’t you come here and find out?”
“Did you get into the special wolfsbane again?” Stiles asks, but he moves to stand in front of Derek in the waist-high water.
“You wouldn’t have to ask if I had.” Grinning now, Derek grabs Stiles by the hips, picks him up, and tosses him as far as he can towards the center of the lake.
Stiles comes up sputtering and coughing, but when he no longer sounds like a drowning victim, he lets out a happy whoop and says, “That was freaking awesome! Do it again!”
And that’s how Stiles and Derek spend the afternoon of the eclipse. No mythical water creature appears, but Stiles gets his own personal water-park ride in the form of a happy, hunky werewolf, and well… Smiles, laughter and being in each other’s company is preferable to most anything.
