Chapter Text
It's Derek's third year of college, studying tech as his major. He left Germany after high school and came to America to study at Harvard, getting helped by the scholarship he earned back in Germany.
He was still surprised by how well things were going even after being here for so long. He has a few friends, mostly because they're the one that wanted to become his friends in the first place.
First he met Hastur, this rich guy that Derek thought at first that got there due to nepotism but he later found out that it wasn't true. Sure his family was rich, but Hastur was a smart guy on his own without tutoring of such things.
And when Hastur saw Derek, an introverted foreign student he just had to adopt him and take him under his wing and make him his best friend.
Even though Derek didn't want to be his friend at first, eventually he warmed up to Hastur. And the two of them being assigned as roommates helped too.
He was still getting annoyed by Hastur sometimes, especially when he was blasting Taylor Swift song or just music in general in their room.
At least he had the decency to turn it off if Derek asked him too and would just listen to it in his headphones.
In his second year, he met Leonidas, or Leo. Also a foreign student but from Greece, in his first year, studying history. They met by accident at the college library, the place was almost full and Leo asked Derek if it was alright to sit with him.
Derek, of course he wasn't going to be rude and of course he let the guy sit with him, and they just started to get along.
Leo was a really sweet and nice guy, very friendly, almost like a puppy most of the time, unless he was in a bad mood, but even then he's doing his best to be nice.
Then, a few weeks later through Leo, Derek met Avery, well, officially met him. They've met before on a Minecraft server and later found out they were in the same school.
From the moment Derek met Avery, something just changed inside him. He wasn't sure why but, he fell for him.
Even though him and Avery are completely different, Avery was more similar to Leo when it comes to his personality, just, not as smart to put it that way.
Of course Avery wouldn't have gotten into Harvard if he was straight up stupid. He could be smart in certain subjects, it's not his fault that he's not as good in others.
But at least that was a little excuse to help Avery study so they can spend time together. This way Avery gets to pass and Derek gets to spend more time with him, win-win.
But if his dating life was bad, Hastur and Leo were something else.
Hastur was absolutely down bad for Leo and he was no hesitant to show it, and Leo liked him back
But those two idiots couldn't make it official, because even if they obviously liked each other, they couldn't get themselves to confess.
He can still remembered the day when those two met for the first time, he's literally been there.
(Flashback)
-"I can't believe the library is full, on a Friday nonetheless." Leo complained.
-"Bad luck I suppose, it is what it is. We can do our essays in my dorm if you want." Derek suggested.
-"Are you sure that your roommate would be ok with that?"
-"I don't think Hastur would mind, he has his own homework to deal with."
-"Well, that's great then! I've been looking forward to finally meeting him. And seeing Muffin of course."
The two young men made their way towards the dorms, walking towards Derek's and Hastur's shared room.
Derek pulled out the keys from his pocket and unlocked the door before walking in, followed by Leo.
-"Derek? Is that you?"
Derek heard Hastur's voice from the bathroom calling out to him. He could hear the shower aswell so he didn't need t question what Hastur was doing in there.
-"Yes, I'm with a friend, is that ok?"
-"Didn't you say you're going to the library?"
-"It's full."
-"On a Friday? Damn, what a bunch of losers."
-"I don't see you being at a party right now."
"I was supposed to, but the dude who organized it got taken the police for smoking weed or something like that."
-"Where the hell do you find those guys?"
-"I don't know. You guys can do your thing, don't mind me."
-"Thanks Hastur."
-"Yeah, yeah, no big deal."
Derek and Leo made their way to Derek's bed and made themselves comfortable on it before taking out their books from their bags.
They started working on their essays, doing their thing in pretty much silence except for discussing a few things once every few minutes.
After some time Hastur finally came out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around his waist to cover him up.
-"Dude, what the hell?" Derek asked, seeing him only in that.
-"Don't, I thought you wouldn't be here when I hopped into the shower. I'll get dressed in a minute."
Hastur moved his gaze to the person next to his roommate, his eyes widening in surprise at the sight of the cute guy who was current staring at him aswell.
Those big doe eyes? Those messy golden curls? Those soft freckles painting those delicate cheeks. Hastur has never something more beautiful in his life.
Derek could almost see an arrow getting struck right through Hastur's heart.
-"Well, hello there gorgeous~. And who might you be, my dear?" Hastur said, taking a few steps towards the side of the bed where Leo was sitting.
-"Uh... I'm Leonidas, you can just call me Leo though... I'm Derek's study partner..." Leo replied, his cheeks turning slightly pink.
-"Oh so you are Leo, Derek told me a lot about you. As you can probably tell, I'm Hastur, Derek's roommate. It's great to finally meet you in person."
Hastur said, his voice having a slightly flirty tone to it as he reached his hand for a handshake probably.
Leo hesitantly took Hastur's hand and both to his and Derek's surprise, Hastur lifted Leo's hand towards his lips, planting a soft kiss on the back of it, making Leo blush harder.
-"Alright Casanova, go put some clothes on." Derek intervined between the two.
-"You really just had to ruin my moment, didn't you?"
-"I'm not comfortable with being in the same room with your while you're naked, go put some clothes on."
Hastur glared at Derek but let go of Leo's hand and went to his room to put some clothes on, giving Leo a small wave as he left, who returned the gesture.
-"He seems nice."
-"He is, but he's also annoying."
-"Really? He doesn't annoy me."
-"Because you're obviously crushing on him already, and he's crushing on you."
-"That's not true! Don't be stupid." Leo denied, despite his cheeks being redder than a tomato.
-"Aha, sure." Derek replied, obviously unfazed by Leo's denial attempt.
Just then, Muffin jumped onto the bed, curling up against Derek's stomach.
-"There you are, princess, I was wondering where you were." Derek said, petting his cat's soft black fur, making her purr.
-"This is her? Awww she's so cute." Leo cooed at the sight of Muffin who just looked up at him with her wide blue eyes as Leo started petting her aswell and playing with her.
(End of flashback)
So yeah, that's how things were. And even after a few weeks since that day those two are not able to confess.
Derek could understand that from Leo, but Hastur? He thought Hastur was more confident than that. He's obviously flirting with him all the time but doesn't make it official.
Well, not that he has it any better.
(Flashback)
"Thanks for coming over Derek." Leo greeted once he opened the door to let Derek in.
-"No problem, I'm always happy to help a friend."
-"My roommate is also here, I hope that's not a problem."
-"Of course not, why would it be a problem?"
-"Just asking." Leo shrugged.
They walked towards Leo's room, on their way Derek saw this cute looking guy.
His skin was pretty fair and smooth looking, his fair brownish like walnuts with a few dyed green streaks, and his eyes a beautiful shade of emerald green that matched his dyed hair.
-"Hi, you must be Leo's roommate."
-"Yes, that's me! I'm Avery, nice to meet you." Avery took Derek's hand in his for a handshake.
-"Nice to meet you too, I'm Derek." Derek replied, shaking Avery's hand.
-"Huh, what a coincidence, I have an online friend named Derek on Minecraft."
-"Now that you mention it, I do have an online friend named Avery aswell."
-"Wait... No friking way! Derlord?"
-"Avery The Mayo?"
-"You two know each other?"
-"Yeah, we play Minecraft together sometimes." Avery turned to Leo before turning bac to Derek. "I can't believe we're in the same school!"
-"Yeah, me too. But it's great we finally got to meet."
-"Now you have no excuse not to give me your socials! I could understand it before since we didn't know where the other was from but not you have to do it." Avery said exited, not realizing he didn't even let go of Derek's hand yet.
-"Is my number alright? I'm not really active on social media."
-"Your number? Planing to take me out on a date later?" Avery joked, his lips curling into a smug smile.
Derek couldn't help but imagine what it would feel like to kiss them, his cheeks starting to heat up once he realized where his thoughts were heading. He just met this guy.
-"Easy now Avery, he's here to study with me not for you to flirt with. You're making him uncomfortable."
-"I am? Oh, sorry.... I was only joking, I didn't mean to make uncomfortable." Avery said apologetically, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly
-"It's fine, really. I always deal with people flirting me anyway."
-"Doesn't surprise, you are pretty good looking."
-"Thanks, you don't look so bad yourself."
Avery's turned a soft shade of pink at the compliment, finally realized that he was still holding Derek's hand, pulling away slightly now.
-"Thanks... Well, I'm heading out now, have fun studying!" Avery said to get out of this now award situation, quickly hurrying to the exit door and walking out, closing the door behind him.
Just to return a second later to grab his shoes from beside the door that he forgot about.
-"Get me some boba tea when you return." Leo called out to Avery
-"Got it!" Avery said before leaving again, for real this time.
He forgot to get my number. Another time I guess.
Derek moved his gaze from the door to look back at Leo who was currently grinning at him.
-"What?" Derek asked when he saw the look on Leo's face.
-"Someone has a crush~." He teased.
-"I don't have a crush on him, we just met." Derek said defensly.
-"Love at first sight is a thing, y'know?"
-"Where do you think we are? In Romeo and Juliet?"
-"No, but both of you clearly like each other, at least a little."
-"No, we don't."
-"Sure, keep telling yourself that."
-"God, you're impossible."
-"Maybe, when it comes to love."
(End of flashback)
So yeah, Derek wasn't having it much better but it is what it is. Since that day Leo was constantly trying to set Derek and Avery up to date, just because he thinks this is true love.
That was stupid. Sure, Derek does like Avery a bit bt he surely can handle his own love life by himself. He doesn't need the help of a guy who ships them like a high school girl but can't handle his own situationship.
Well, if Leo was going to do that, he might aswell do the same, right? It was clear as day that Leo and Hastur are simping over each other, especially Hastur. That guy is a gooner for the other.
They would be cute together, that's for sure. They'd probably be high school sweethearts if they met earlier but no problem, they could be now just well. At least Derek was sure of that.